A Favourable Verdict

In a trial that lasted less than two hours, one of the most talked
about cases in the past month is over.

Deng Yujiao was originally charged with murder for stabbing two
officials, one of whom died of the wounds in a karoke bar in Hubei
Province when they demanded sexual favours from her.

As soon as the story broke, there was immediate outcry, supporting
Deng, 21, for trying to defend herself against corrupt officials, one
of whom apparently hit her head with a giant wad of cash.

Because of massive public support for her, the charge was later
dropped to "intentional injury".

This morning the trial began at Badong People's Court and before
lunchtime the verdict was delivered -- Deng was cleared of all
charges. The court ruled that she had acted in self-defense, and
because of her "mental imbalance" she was found not guilty.

The case is so interesting mostly because it got so much coverage in
the media and online. The verdict was already decided in the court of
public opinion before the court of law had a chance to see the
evidence and hear the arguments.

But the court, which is controlled by the government, had to find Deng
not guilty, one way or another, otherwise there would be further
public outrage that the authorities didn't want to deal with. And the
"mental imbalance" gave the court an easy out.

If this was the United States, Canada or Europe, media outlets would
have been clamouring to get in touch with Deng to tell her story in
front of the cameras.

But maybe we will never hear from her again, with a possible condition
of her release being that she never speak publicly about the incident
ever again.

Nevertheless, it is a clear example that officials aren't above the
law and that the public will find a way to get justice for the
ordinary man or woman.