August 17, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 14, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 16: American volleyball head coach Hugh McCutcheon returned to his team duties on Saturday after missing their opening four games after an attacker murdered his father-in-law in Beijing.

Todd Bachman was killed a week ago after being stabbed by an unemployed Chinese man at Beijing’s Drum Tower monument while sightseeing with his wife Barbara, who was seriously injured. The American team said Barbara was recovering and had left Beijing by air ambulance for the United States where she will continue her treatment.

“All three of her daughters, including Elisabeth McCutcheon [a former volleyball Olympian] have also returned to the United States,” said a team statement.

The unprovoked attack stunned the American team, and McCutcheon, a New Zealander, paid tribute to the Peking Union Medical Hospital who took care of his mother-in-law.

“We are also extremely appreciative of the support we have received from people here in Beijing, the United States, New Zealand and around the world,” he said. The assailant, a 47-year-old man from eastern China, jumped to his death off the second storey of the monument shortly after the attack, which occurred despite China deploying massive security in Beijing for the Olympics.—AFP