By LORETTA CHAO
BEIJING -- A hotel employee whose arrest for the murder of an
official sparked a wave of national sympathy in China after her lawyers
said she was fighting off a rape attack has been released on bail, the
state-controlled Xinhua news agency said.
The case is the latest in a series of scandals in China involving
alleged abuse by the rich or powerful.
Deng Yujiao, 21, was arrested May 10 after she allegedly stabbed two
local government officials with a fruit knife in the Xiongfeng Hotel in
central Hubei province, killing one of them.
Ms. Deng got in a quarrel with Huang Dezhi when he "mistook" her for
a bathhouse attendant and asked her for "cross gender" services,
according to a police report.
Mr. Huang's colleague, Deng Guida, eventually intervened and the
argument escalated when he pushed Ms. Deng onto a couch twice, and she
"took a fruit knife and stabbed" Mr. Deng four times, including once in
the neck, the report said. She also stabbed Mr. Huang in the forearm.
Mr. Deng, who worked for an office overseeing investment projects in
Badong city and isn't related to Ms. Deng, later died from his injuries.
Badong County officials said the local public-security bureau is
investigating the case, and Ms. Deng hasn't been formally charged. A
public-security report said she was initially detained for "suspicion of
intentionally killing" Mr. Deng.
Ms. Deng's lawyers have said she was acting in self-defense when the
men tried to rape her after she refused to have sex with them for money.
The case sparked public anguish over the issue of violence against
women, and a flood of sympathy for Ms. Deng in comments flooding in to
Chinese Internet forums and blogs.
An essay posted on a Web forum hosted by the People's Daily
newspaper called the stabbing a "heroic act" and a milestone for women's
liberation. The date of the attack -- May 10 -- "will forever be
remembered as the day on which a [girl] bravely defended herself and
fought against the corrupt official when her life was threatened," said
the author, writing under the name "Shenzhou Shouwang," or "Watching
Over China."
In a forum on the same site, a user called Guo Chunfu wrote that Ms.
Deng "used her own acts to show that even the underprivileged can have a
dignified life."
The outpouring of support prompted the Badong County government to
take the extraordinary step of posting a headline on its Web site
inviting anyone concerned with the case to call the county's news and
information center. The site says a representative has been assigned to
the case to ensure that investigations are transparent and timely.
Last weekend, five women demonstrated in support of Ms. Deng near
the Beijing West Railway Station. Wu Rongrong, an AIDS activist in the
group, said the protest highlighted the need for greater "social respect
and legal protection" for women. Another protester, wrapped in white
cloth and wearing a face mask, lay on the floor next to sheets of paper
that read: "Anyone may become Deng Yujiao."
Spokesmen for the Badong County government declined to comment
further on the case, and Ms. Deng couldn't be reached for comment. Her
defense lawyers were fired at her mother's request this week after
disagreements over strategy.
Earlier this month, there was a public uproar after reports that the
wealthy owner of a speeding car that killed a pedestrian in the eastern
city of Hangzhou had escaped immediate prosecution. Xinhua reported that
the driver, who was later arrested for manslaughter. His family ended up
agreeing to pay 1.1 million yuan ($165,000) in compensation to the
victim's family.
—Kersten Zhang contributed to this article.
Write to Loretta Chao at loretta.c...@wsj.com
Chinese public outraged over
case of Deng Yujiao（邓玉娇案激起中国民众的强烈愤慨） case of Deng
Yujiao（邓玉娇案激起中国民众的强烈愤慨）
Deng Yujiao, 21, rests at a hospital in Badong, central China's
Hubei province Deng Yujiao, 21, rests at a hospital in Badong, central
China's Hubei province
The case of the pedicurist and the lecherous official has galvanised
public opinion in China. The case of the pedicurist and the lecherous
official has galvanised public opinion in China.
Women's groups, and even the conservative state Women's Federation,
have demanded fair treatment for 21-year-old Deng Yujiao who stabbed a
low-ranking government official who demanded she provide him
with“special services”. Women's groups, and even the conservative state
Women's Federation, have demanded fair treatment for 21-year-old Deng
Yujiao who stabbed a low-ranking government official who demanded she
provide him with“special services”.
....... .......
The most detailed account of the incident in the Southern Metropolis
Weekly is based on Ms Deng's conversations with her lawyer. She says
that on May 10, Deng Guida and another local official found her washing
her clothes in the Xiongfeng Hotel Recreational Centre's Dream City.
When she declined to provide “special services”, they tried to force her
and slapped her over the head with wads of cash. She said Deng Guida
shouted: “Don't you want money? You have never seen any money! How much
money do youwant? Just say so. Would you believe if I am going to beat
you todeath with money today... Indeed I'll beat you to death with
money. I am going to summon a truckload of money and squash you to
death." The two men pushed the girl back on a sofa. She drew a fruit
knife out of her bag and lashed out. Deng Guida, 44, was killed and his
colleague, also 44, was wounded. The most detailed account of the
incident in the Southern Metropolis Weekly is based on Ms Deng's
conversations with her lawyer. She says that on May 10, Deng Guida and
another local official found her washing her clothes in the Xiongfeng
Hotel Recreational Centre's Dream City. When she declined to provide
“special services”, they tried to force her and slapped her over the
head with wads of cash. She said Deng Guida shouted: “Don't you want
money? You have never seen any money! How much money do youwant? Just
say so. Would you believe if I am going to beat you todeath with money
today... Indeed I'll beat you to death with money. I am going to summon
a truckload of money and squash you to death." The two men pushed the
girl back on a sofa. She drew a fruit knife out of her bag and lashed
out. Deng Guida, 44, was killed and his colleague, also 44, was wounded.
...... ......
Ms Deng has now been sent home under a form of “house surveillance.”
Ms Deng has now been sent home under a form of “house surveillance.”
Have your say Have your say
What a shame! What a shame!
Many men do prostitutes. But should do it in proper ways. M
Otherwise it is illegal rape!