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A woman accused of killing a low- level official as she resisted an alleged sexual assault attempt has been released from custody and put under house arrest.
Police in Badong county, Hubei, released Deng Yujiao,  the 21-year-old hotel pedicurist who has become the latest icon of the  struggle against unbridled power and official immorality on the mainland.
Deng stabbed Deng Guida, a town official in Badong county, to death on May 10 in the hotel's bathing area, where she was humiliated and possibly sexually assaulted for refusing to provide the official with a 'special service', a euphemism for sex.
She was detained on charges of murder, but her plight triggered an outpouring of support, with volunteer lawyers, women's rights groups and other civil rights groups showing their solidarity.
Xinhua quoted Ouyang Kaiping, speaking for the county government, yesterday  as saying the decision to release Deng Yujiao from police detention was made after an application by her defence lawyers and a police assessment that she would not pose any threat  to the wider community.
Xia Lin, a volunteer lawyer, who authorities said was fired by Deng Yujiao's mother, said that he was pleased she had not been arrested or sent to a mental hospital.  
'However, the decision to put Ms Deng under house arrest means there will be more possibilities over a future that is full of uncertainties,' Mr Xia said.
Some commentators said the move would help address public mistrust in the government after Badong authorities said Deng Yujiao's mother had hired two Hubei-based lawyers to replace Mr Xia's team without allowing the mother to speak for herself. They also said the house arrest could be an indication of an official back-pedal from the earlier murder charges and an attempt to defuse public anger.
Pu Zhiqiang, another volunteer lawyer now in Badong, said that he was not ready to link the house arrest to a possible lenient verdict on Deng Yujiao.  
'But the fact that police would release from detention a murder suspect who allegedly killed one person and wounded another, without a concrete legal excuse, has vindicated our view of the case,' Mr Pu said.
Many have said Deng Yujiao acted in self-defence or could, at most, be accused of manslaughter.
Meanwhile, Badong authorities have begun asking reporters to register with local police before they check in at hotels.



Woman accused of killing official put under house arrest