Brit girl Solaine Thornton ‘not target’ of gunman who blasted her on swings as he tells court ‘I don’t understand it’

A BRIT girl of 11 shot dead by a neighbour in France was not believed to be his target, say prosecutors. Dirk Raats, 71, pictured here for the first time, blasted Solaine Thornton through the heart as she played on a swing. Public prosecutor Camille Miansoni said Dirk Raats was ‘not aiming’ at Solaine ThorntonPixel8000 Solaine, 11, died after being shot through the heartSupplied But public prosecutor Camille Miansoni said: “It would seem that he was not aiming at the little girl.” At Brest criminal court, Raats said: “It’s so horrible. I don’t understand it.” Raats fired four bullets with a .22 calibre rifle, hitting Solaine’s father Adrian, 52, in the head and mum Rachael, 49, in the back and head. Their other daughter Celeste, eight, escaped unhurt and fled to neighbour Pierre Leroy’s house. Pierre said: “Celeste had dodged a bullet and ran for her life up here. We went straight over. “The mother was cradling Solaine in her arms and screaming. “Adrian was shouting as well — injured but conscious — but the mother understood it was too late for her daughter. “There were no words, just screams.” Mr Thornton was in a coma in hospital last night where his wife was seriously ill. Mr Miansoni said Dutchman Raats was “exasperated” by the Thorntons, originally from Manchester, because they cut back trees and bushes on the border of their homes. Raats has been charged with murder and attempted murder after the rampage in Saint-Herbot, Brittany. His Belgian wife Marlene van Hook, 69, was arrested over concealing the murder weapon. Police found a .22 Winchester-type rifle thought to be have been used in the spree and a Winchester .30 calibre with ammunition at their home. The neighbour’s green shuttered house overlooks Solaine’s playgroundTF1