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China waitress murder trial opens Waitress free in official's death
(about 2 hours later)
A waitress accused of killing an official as he allegedly assaulted her has been brought to court, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. A waitress accused of killing an official as he allegedly assaulted her has been cleared of all charges, Chinese media have reported.
The trial is being held in Badong County, central China's Hubei Province. The court ruled that Deng Yujiao, who worked in a karaoke bar, had acted in self-defence. She has been diagnosed with a "mental imbalance".
Lawyers for Deng Yujiao, who had given herself in to police, are reportedly insisting on her innocence. The trial, in central China's Hubei province, lasted less than two hours, as crowds of people waited outside.
The case has sparked widespread concern and support for the waitress online, and state media coverage of the case is said to be unusually sympathetic. Her case has received widespread sympathy on Chinese websites.
The trial is expected to last for three to four hours, Xinhua quoted one of the lawyers as saying. 'Injustice'
Police say Ms Deng, 21, conducted "excessive defence" when she allegedly killed Deng Guida and injured Huang Dezhi with a knife after she refused to join them in a bath on 10 May, the news agency reported. An outcry broke out when Ms Deng was initially charged with murder, and the charges were later changed to assault.
The two men are township officials of Badong county, under the administration of Enshi. Police had said Ms Deng, 21, acted with "excessive defence" when she allegedly killed Deng Guida and injured another man, Huang Dezhi, with a knife after she refused to join them in a bath on 10 May, reports said.
A police statement saying that the men pushed, shoved and insulted Ms Deng, Xinhua said. The two men were township officials of Badong county.
Sympathy A police statement said that the men pushed, shoved and insulted Ms Deng, China's official Xinhua news agency said.
The Caijing business magazine reported that Ms Deng had been diagnosed with a "mental imbalance" which could lessen the punishment she faces. Caijing business magazine reported that Ms Deng had been diagnosed with a "mental imbalance", quoting lawyers saying she could be set free.
The magazine suggested she might be sentenced to less than 10 years imprisonment, and quoted lawyers saying she should be given a suspended sentence which could see her set free.
Chinese websites have praised Ms Deng for fighting injustice and posted poems and songs in her support.Chinese websites have praised Ms Deng for fighting injustice and posted poems and songs in her support.
The strong public interest in the case prompted the local government in Badong to post a statement online promising a fair hearing.The strong public interest in the case prompted the local government in Badong to post a statement online promising a fair hearing.