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Official-killer waitress exempted on court

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-16 16:18

BADONG, Hubei Province -- A woman accused of stabbing an official to death and injuring another in self-defence in an alleged sexual assault on May 10 was exempted from criminal punishment by a local court Tuesday in Badong County, central China's Hubei Province.

Deng Yujiao, 21, a pedicurist, was charged by local procurators with intentionally injuring others.

The court said the punishment-exemption verdict was made on the basis of three factors.

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First, Deng's behavior was self-defence, albeit with excessive use of force. Second, Deng surrendered herself to the police. Third, Deng had limited capability to take legal responsibilities.

In line with China's criminal law, any suspect in the above conditions should be given penalties with leniency, explained Prof. Ma Kechang, an expert in criminal law with Wuhan University based in the provincial capital.

According to forensic assessment made jointly by the Hubei People's Hospital and Wuhan Mental Disease Hospital, both based in the provincial capital, Deng has developed a manic-depressive reaction, which deprives her of full capability of taking legal responsibilities.

At the court, Deng wore a pigtail and dressed in a white T-shirt and a pair of grey trousers. She appeared weak but seemed in a rather good mental condition.

After the verdict, Deng, choking in sobs from time to time, told Xinhua that she was quite surprised about the judgement and was very contented. She thought she would have been penalized harshly because of the murder.

She expressed her gratitude to the public, netizens in particular, for their concern and support. She said her family members, especially her mother and grandfather, had since the incident cared about her and the affection between them had developed further.

She said the first thing she should do in the near future was to have her mental disorder treated, and then she would try to find a new job and live a peaceful life. She hoped she can learn a new skill.

Deng's mother, Zhang Shumei, also expressed her satisfaction about the verdict.

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