Browse the web faster with Firefox
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
15
Apr
2011
Senseless murder in Xi'an: The Piano made him do it E-mail
News - Xi'an News
Written by Olivia
On Oct 23rd, 2010, Yao Jiaxin, a college junior in Xi’an Conservatory of Music hit a 26 year-old woman with his car. When he noticed the victim was taking down his license plate number, he got out of the car, took out a knife and stabbed her 8 times to death. Li Meijin is professor of criminology in Chinese People’s Public Security University and she’s a regular guest in some of the country’s news programs.

This time, she also gave her analysis and commented on this controversial murder case but caused an even wider dispute. When asked to comment on the murder, the professor of criminology said," We all know music can mold one’s temperament. Yao plays piano well. He enters university, he should have a mature way of thinking and attitude, he should know what’s important and what’s not. Thus, people find it really hard to figure out why this incident would happen at all. In my opinion, there are a lot of reasons for it, one of which I think it’s there are many things missing in his process of growing up. "

Later the professor gave the example of the well-known pianist Lang Lang. She said, "Lang Lang once told the story in his childhood that, his father pushed him to practice piano every day and even threaten Lang Lang if he couldn’t play the piano well, he would throw Lang Lang down from the top of the apartment and then jump down himself to death also… Growing up in an environment where he was constantly forced to do something, a person often becomes more and more numb and cold-blooded. He may play piano very well, but he lost the sympathy and love for a lot of things. So I think what is missing in Yao’s life, is the communication of feelings."

The professor explained later in the program that, Yao’s cruel action of stabbing the victim 8 times is actually a compulsive behavior resulted from his forced practice of piano. "A compulsive behavior is mechanical behavior. He was forced to play piano, to strike the keys hard on the piano to let out his grievance. When he stabbed the girl, he was having the same feeling and therefore he started the mechanical action of striking the keys only this time is stabbing a human being with knife."

One factor that makes the murder case so controversial is when interviewed earlier, the murder Yao confessed the reason he stabbed the victim after hitting her, is because he thought " farmer are too difficult to get rid of " and he was afraid that she would harass his parents for money. The anchor later asked professor Li what did she think of Yao’s answer, the professor continued to defend the murder by saying, "I don’t know where he got this wrong idea and prejudice from…But it’s true that lawsuit can be very time and money consuming…Of course, he’s ignorant in some way, but he’s not the only one to have this prejudice. This is actually an existing social prejudice. Whatever he says, is wrong, but they all have their root in the society".


Video about the murder case and Professor Li Meijin’s analysis.

However, Chinese netizens obviously disagree with the criminologist’s analysis, saying she is far from being called an expert, jumping to a so-called "professional" conclusion of the murder’s motive and psychological reason for his cruel crime before she actually give some study and thought in the case. Since the news program is in CCTV, what she said on the murder more or less will have influence on the public’s opinion and even affect the trial. They criticize the professor for only caring about making money by showing in TV program instead of doing what she should do-engaged in her own study. Some even write posts on analyzing her, saying "if she can make such a hasty conclusion to a murder’s criminal analysis, why can I give her an diagnose on her stupid behavior? "

Among the voice of criticizing is a professor of philosophy in the Peking University, who "diagnoses" professor Li as having the syndrome of "Expert obsessive-Compulsive Disorder", individual who is too obsessive with their identity of expert. In the article, Xiao mainly points out Li’s 2 mistakes. First, as a professor in psychology and a work staff in the judicial and public security section, Li knew clearly that what she said on the influential media platform CCTV would affect the public opinion on the murder and eventually the outcome of the case. Second, to conclude the murder’s crime with his playing piano has absolute connection is absurd. It’s a cruel murder case, it wouldn’t make a difference even the murder is a student in music school and can play piano well.

What even further provoked people’s anger is an article Li Meijin later published online to response to all the criticism as she claimed people knocked her because they’re all laymen of the criminology and wouldn’t understand her reasoning and analysis. And she’s going to response to any criticism unless it’s from an expert or authority.

The defendant’s lawyer claimed Yao is "killed in the heat of passion", but seriously, what kind of people would carry a knife with 30cm blade ( the knife Yao used to stab the victim) all the time?

Thank you ChinaHush for this story!
Our valuable Editor Olivia has been with us since Friday, 15 April 2011.
Do you have a story to share? Do you want to be a ND Author? Send your own story, write about family, friends, life in Xi'an, business, real estate, education, travel, entertainment, write a review, suggest a column and more! In any language! Please include at least one picture about your story if possible, your name, email address, blog-/web-address, so we can give you credit. Go ahead, click here: Submit your Story now and we will publish it and list you as a ND contributor! Alternatively you can send us your story to: xianstories@newdynasty.com.cn

Add comment


More Articles in this Category

Latest Articles in Xi'an News

NEW DYNASTY TV - Xi'an Reports, Interviews and Movies

ND TV - Premier Web TV Reports, Interviews, Movies about Expats and Locals in Xi'an/China! This is UNIQUE in Xi'an!

ND proudly presents: Xi'an Models Volume 1

Xi'an Models

Advertisement

RECOMMENDED LINKS  
MANGO - Women's Collection
HaoHao - China Stories		 Silk Road International (SRI)

Watch Great Movies Online - Right here on ND - For Free!

Watch Great Movies Online - Right here on ND - For Free!

New Dynasty Comics


We want you! - 加入我们!

We're currently looking for some down to earth people who can spare a little time each week to write about anything related to Xi'an and China, who are eager to share stories, news, insight info and be a part of the most sophisticated and fastest growing Digital Magazine in Xi'an. Whether you're young or old, we'd like to hear from you. Click for more info.

Editorials

Xi'an goes digital
To all readers, subscribers, friends: Welcome to Xi'ans most sophisticated, multilingual digital magazine. We are excited to offer you from today on, 15. June 2009, a new and superior kind of publication in Xi'an and a refreshing new concept. Of course, as with any technology-related... Click here to read the full story!

Skype ND!

Skype ND!

Featured Website

¡XABOO! is a brand new interactive Community Platform for Locals and Expatriates in Xi'an (China).¡XABOO! is an interactive Community Platform for Locals and Expatriates in Xi'an. Click here & register now!

Editor Team

We have a team that works on the articles presented on ND. Please contact us if  you are interested in helping us out with the creation of articles or researching information in Xi'an. Contact:  info@newdynasty.com.cn

Post translation

ND has readers from all over the world and in several languages. If you translate one of our articles please let us know so we can add a link at the original article! Your site and name will be posted as well. Thanks!

Restaurants

article thumbnail Tuscany Restaurant

We are a family owned restaurant and take pride in everything we do. From the fine ingredients we use to the wines we carry, you...

ND Digital Magazine Xi'an - Subscribe now!

ND Digital Magazine Sample Cover
*Sample Image

Hotels

article thumbnail Grand Noble Xi'an

The hotel has 428 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, a full range of dining, recreational and conference facilities. ...

ND on your Mobile Phone Browser - Coming soon

ND Mobile v1.0 is online! Browse ND's eMag with your mobile device by typing the address m.newdynasty.com.cn in the browser of your device or be auto-redirected to our mobile site by typing newdynasty.com.cn. You can read our articles, watch ND TV and more even better in the future with your iphone, android etc. Stay tuned. Click here for more Info or here if you want to report a bug.