Student, 21, accused of fatally stabbing young mother goes on trial

A university student, who had allegedly stabbed a young mother to death and injured two other passers-by in October, went on trial yesterday in the city of Xian in Shaanxi province.

More than 400 local college students watched the trial at the city's Intermediate People's Court.

Yao Jiaxin , a 21-year-old student at the Xian Conservatory of Music, knocked down cyclist Zhang Miao on October 20 while driving his car at about 11pm. Yao said that when he saw her staring at him and his car's number plate, he lost his mind and killed her, according to the Xian Evening News.

While rushing off, Yao knocked down two other passers-by, a man and a woman. Police traced Yao two days later and detained him on a suspicion of murder the next day.

Yao could receive the death penalty if convicted of murder, but could be sentenced to 10 years' jail if convicted of a lesser charge over the killing.

The case sparked a public outcry after he admitted stabbing the woman seven times with a 20cm fruit knife just because he was afraid that the victim, who 'looked like a peasant', would be disabled because of the accident.

However, police said Zhang, 26, the mother of a two-year-old boy, suffered a fractured left leg and other minor injuries.