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| Aunt suspected of gouging out Chinese boy's eyes | Aunt suspected of gouging out Chinese boy's eyes |
| (14 days later) | |
| Chinese authorities suspect the woman who gouged out a six-year-old boy's eyes was his aunt who later killed herself. | Chinese authorities suspect the woman who gouged out a six-year-old boy's eyes was his aunt who later killed herself. |
| Images and footage of the child in hospital, his eyes bandaged and parents distraught, have circulated on the internet, feeding national horror at the brutal attack. | Images and footage of the child in hospital, his eyes bandaged and parents distraught, have circulated on the internet, feeding national horror at the brutal attack. |
| "Mama, why is the sky still so dark?" the child has been quoted as saying while recovering in hospital, his parents unable to bring themselves to tell him about his condition. | "Mama, why is the sky still so dark?" the child has been quoted as saying while recovering in hospital, his parents unable to bring themselves to tell him about his condition. |
| On Wednesday police in the city of Linfen in northern Shanxi province confirmed an official Xinhua news agency report that the boy's aunt, Zhang Huiying, had been identified as a suspect because his blood was found on her clothes. Six days after the boy was attacked, Zhang killed herself by jumping into a well. Police were still unable to present a motive for the attack. | On Wednesday police in the city of Linfen in northern Shanxi province confirmed an official Xinhua news agency report that the boy's aunt, Zhang Huiying, had been identified as a suspect because his blood was found on her clothes. Six days after the boy was attacked, Zhang killed herself by jumping into a well. Police were still unable to present a motive for the attack. |
| Initial reports said the boy, Guo Bin, who also goes by the nickname Bin Bin, had been playing outside his home on the evening of 24 August when he was lured by an unidentified woman into a field, where she used a tool to gouge out his eyes. Family members found the boy late at night in a remote area. | Initial reports said the boy, Guo Bin, who also goes by the nickname Bin Bin, had been playing outside his home on the evening of 24 August when he was lured by an unidentified woman into a field, where she used a tool to gouge out his eyes. Family members found the boy late at night in a remote area. |
| The police finding seemed to conflict with the family's earlier comments, which cited the boy as saying the woman spoke with an accent from outside the area and had hair that was dyed blonde. | The police finding seemed to conflict with the family's earlier comments, which cited the boy as saying the woman spoke with an accent from outside the area and had hair that was dyed blonde. |
| Bin Bin's mother said in a phone interview that the boy had been disoriented after the attack. "It is easy to understand that he wasn't clear about the situation," Wang Wenli told Associated Press. "He said her accent was from another region, but he later amended that. He then said it was a local accent, but he did not say that it was his aunt." | Bin Bin's mother said in a phone interview that the boy had been disoriented after the attack. "It is easy to understand that he wasn't clear about the situation," Wang Wenli told Associated Press. "He said her accent was from another region, but he later amended that. He then said it was a local accent, but he did not say that it was his aunt." |
| She declined to talk about the police evidence against her sister-in-law, saying: "The police did not tell us anything. I do not know." | She declined to talk about the police evidence against her sister-in-law, saying: "The police did not tell us anything. I do not know." |
| State media had raised the possibility that Bin Bin's corneas were taken for sale because of a donor shortage in China but police said the boy's eyeballs were found at the scene and that the corneas had not been removed. | State media had raised the possibility that Bin Bin's corneas were taken for sale because of a donor shortage in China but police said the boy's eyeballs were found at the scene and that the corneas had not been removed. |
| Some media reports said the aunt had argued with Bin Bin's parents over how much money each family should contribute to the care of his grandfather, who was paralysed. But Wang said reports of a family dispute were false. | Some media reports said the aunt had argued with Bin Bin's parents over how much money each family should contribute to the care of his grandfather, who was paralysed. But Wang said reports of a family dispute were false. |
| "There was no dispute between us and the aunt," Wang said. "I have heard that someone said we had a dispute over taking care of the grandfather, but that is just a lie." | "There was no dispute between us and the aunt," Wang said. "I have heard that someone said we had a dispute over taking care of the grandfather, but that is just a lie." |
| Wang's brother, Wang Wenjun, said Zhang might have been mentally ill. | Wang's brother, Wang Wenjun, said Zhang might have been mentally ill. |
| Bin Bin was recovering steadily, his mother said. "He talks to me, and he plays with toys that people have sent him," Wang said. "He still doesn't know that he likely will be blind the rest of his life." | Bin Bin was recovering steadily, his mother said. "He talks to me, and he plays with toys that people have sent him," Wang said. "He still doesn't know that he likely will be blind the rest of his life." |
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