A case of self defence? Chinese woman charged over fatal stabbing of intruder
- Prosecutors say accused’s actions were excessive, prompting online calls for her to be released
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A woman in southwestern China is being sued for intentional injury after a man who tried breaking into her home with a kitchen knife bled to death from a stab wound, Chinese media reported.
In the latest case to raise debate about the right to self defence, news portal Thecover.cn on Monday quoted the indictment from prosecutors in Yongsheng township, Yunnan province, as saying that the 26-year-old, surnamed Tang, was detained on February 10 and arrested on February 25.
Yongsheng’s Weibo news page said prosecutors had decided on charges but that no court date was set.
According to The Cover’s report, Tang was being driven home from a birthday party by a friend at about 11pm on February 8, when a drunk man, surnamed Li, stopped their car and was pulled away by onlookers.
She got out of the car and continued home on foot as 20-year-old Li hurled insults at her, the document said. Tang called her father about Li’s behaviour, which led to a confrontation between the woman and her father and Li.
The report said Li kicked out at the father and a fight ensued. When Li returned home, his family took him to Tang’s house to apologise. Li demanded an apology for his injuries, but the daughter and father refused.
At about 1am on February 9, Li – armed with a kitchen knife – returned to Tang’s house with a friend surnamed Luo. Li tried to break through the gate, but his friend took the knife and threw it away.
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When Tang heard the noise, she took an onion peeler and a fruit knife from the kitchen and went outside to find Li being led away by his friend.
Li kicked Tang in the abdomen, and she went at him with the blades. Li ran from her but collapsed in the street. When the friend reached him, Li had a stab wound in the chest. He died of blood loss in hospital.
While prosecutors said that Tang caused Li’s death and she should face charges, self defence was a mitigating factor but that her actions were excessive.
The case led to strong public reaction, and by Tuesday it had attracted 490 million hits on Weibo, with many people demanding Tang’s release without charge. Others discussed the boundaries of self defence and how to react in a similar situation.
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In September, the killing of a machete-wielding BMW driver by cyclist Yu Haiming in Kunshan, southeastern Jiangsu province, prompted fierce debate.
Yu was seen on security cameras arguing with driver Liu Hailong, who had almost knocked him off his bike. Liu went to the back seat of his car, pulled a machete and struck out at the cyclist. Liu was fatally wounded in a scuffle over the machete with Yu.
The cyclist was detained by police but later released. Kunshan prosecutors said the incident was rightful self-defence and closed the case against Yu.
