Teenager stands trial for assault in E China

HEFEI - A teenager who allegedly set fire to a girl who turned down his romantic advances stood trial in a district court in East China's city of Hefei on Monday.

The Baohe District People's Court is handling the closed-door hearing.

The 17-year-old boy, surnamed Tao, has been charged with intentional assault. He was detained last September after he went to the home of a girl surnamed Zhou, poured gasoline on her face and ignited it with a lighter.

The case prompted public outcry after the victim's mother detailed the gruesome details of the assault online, posting photos of her daughter's bandage-wrapped face.

A hospital examination indicated that about 32 percent of the girl's body was burned. Zhou's left ear was mutilated, most of her face became disfigured and she was left with severe burns on her head, neck, hands and legs.

The girl's parents previously asked for a public hearing, a request that was turned down due to the fact that the defendant is underage.