Deng Yujiao incident

Deng Yujiao incident
Date10 May 2009 (2009-05-10)
VenueXiongfeng Hotel (雄风宾馆)
LocationYesanguan [zh], Badong County, Hubei, China
ParticipantsDeng Yujiao, Deng Guida, Huang Dezhi
Deaths1
Non-fatal injuries2

The Deng Yujiao incident (simplified Chinese: 邓玉娇事件; traditional Chinese: 鄧玉嬌事件; pinyin: Dèng Yùjiāo Shìjiàn) occurred on 10 May 2009 at a hotel in Badong County, Hubei.[1] Deng Yujiao, a 21-year-old pedicure worker, tried to rebuff the advances of Deng Guida (邓贵大; no relation), director of the local township business promotions office, who had come to the hotel seeking sexual services.[2] She allegedly stabbed her assailant several times trying to fight him off, resulting in his death. Badong County police subsequently arrested Deng Yujiao, charged her with homicide, and refused to grant her bail.

This case came to national prominence through internet forums and chatrooms, where netizens were enraged by her treatment. The case resonated with the public anger over the corruption and immorality of officials, and garnered over four million forum posts across the country.[3] Chinese authorities attempted to downplay the incident by limiting its presence on Chinese web portals, and a large number of discussion threads were censored.[4] Following a groundswell of public protests and online petitions, prosecutors dropped murder charges, granted her bail,[2] and charged her with a lesser offense of "intentional assault".[5] She was found guilty but did not receive a sentence due to her mental state. The two surviving officials involved in the incident were removed, also ostensibly in response to public pressure.[6]

  1. ^ "A stab at reform". The Economist. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b Branigan, Tania (27 May 2009). "Chinese woman who killed official bailed after online outcry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  3. ^ Wines, Michael (16 June 2009). "Civic-Minded Chinese Find a Voice Online". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  4. ^ Li, Raymond (10 June 2009). "Web of support". South China Morning Post. p. A11, 'Behind the News'.
  5. ^ Lin, Jerran; Moy, Patsy; AFP (17 June 2009). "Heroic killer walks free". The Standard. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference slap was invoked but never defined (see the help page).