Woman accused of killing judge stands trial

A woman accused of the stabbing death of a judge in Changsha, Hunan province, earlier this year stood trial in the Changsha Intermediate People's Court on Friday.

Prosecutors said that Xiang Hui is from the same town as Zhou Chunmei, who was a judge at the Hunan High People's Court, and went to the same school.

Xiang decided to kill Zhou after the judge refused to bend the law in a labor-related lawsuit Xiang had filed with the court.

The prosecutors' investigation found Xiang had tried to give a box of fruit, in which she put 20,000 yuan ($3,079) and a golden bracelet, to Zhou on Sept 7, 2020. Xiang assumed Zhou would help her win the lawsuit as they are from the same town, but Zhou refused.

Prosecutors said Xiang got close to the judge by taking a job as a cleaner in the housing community Zhou lived in.

At about 7 am on Jan 12, Xiang attacked Zhou in the parking area of the community, stabbing her several times in the head and neck with a knife.

Zhou bled to death and Xiang was detained by police at the scene. The prosecutors said Xiang should be charged with intentional homicide.

No details about Xiang's labor-related case have been released.

The court will announce its ruling at a later date.