On August 16, the first trial of the case where a 9-year-old girl in Changsha had her skull fractured by a teacher using a triangular ruler took place. During the court session, the accused teacher, Song, changed his testimony, claiming that he accidentally injured the student, sparking outrage among netizens. The case will be sentenced on a chosen date or another trial will be held.
According to the report from Red Star News, there was intense debate between the prosecution and defense regarding whether Song’s actions were intentional. Song overturned his previous statement to the police about actively throwing the triangular ruler at the student, Liu Yuchen. He argued that it was a negligent act that led to the injury; the ruler first hit the table and then rebounded onto Liu Yuchen’s head.
After 8 hours of trial, the court announced that sentencing would be determined on a later date or in another trial.
“I hope that the perpetrator who harmed my child will be sentenced to the maximum punishment,” said Liu Yuchen’s father to Red Star News. “Not only was the crime heinous, but he also showed no remorse afterward.”
The indictment revealed that the defendant, Song, was a teacher at Changsha Bocai Meixihu Primary School, responsible for class 2003’s after-school service. On September 6, 2023, at around 4 p.m., Song went to the South Campus of the school’s Hongli Building where the fourth-grade class 2003 was held. He found the students being noisy, and after trying to intimidate them by hitting the table with a teaching whip, which did not work, he left the classroom. Later, he returned and flipped the table on the platform, then picked up a white hard plastic triangular ruler in the classroom, broke it, and forcefully slammed the broken ruler towards the noisy student. The ruler hit Liu Yuchen’s forehead in the front row, causing him to bleed profusely on the spot. The examination later confirmed it as a second-degree serious injury.
Liu Yuchen’s mother accused the school of not informing the parents until over two hours after the incident, and they demanded the wound to be sutured without any examination or treatment. Only after the parents’ insistence was the suturing delayed.
At that time, Liu Yuchen’s mother said, “The brain even came out.” After a 5-hour craniotomy, the shattered skull and foreign objects were removed. However, the report stated it was an injury to the forehead. Furthermore, after the incident, when parents requested to view the surveillance footage, the school claimed that the “surveillance video on the day of the incident could not be retrieved.”
Liu Yuchen’s mother questioned: “How could the surveillance suddenly fail on that day? Is it really just a coincidence? What truth do you want to hide?”
According to Liu Yuchen’s mother, Song had been reported by parents multiple times for corporal punishment of students but was still retained by the school. In addition, students in the class did not dare tell their parents what happened in the classroom that day. Liu Yuchen’s mother suspected that the school had threatened the students.
Liu Yuchen’s mother provided medical records to UpNew News, showing that after Liu Yuchen underwent craniotomy surgery and completed treatment in the ICU, he stayed in the hospital for a month. For the recovery of language, memory, and mobility, Liu Yuchen still needs therapy every month. Currently, Liu Yuchen still experiences depression, decreased memory, irritability, and other symptoms.
In March this year, Liu Yuchen went to another school but had to return home within a month due to health reasons. Liu Yuchen’s parents criticized: “The school that should educate and teach has become a nightmare that has left my child with a lifelong disability.”
Liu Yuchen’s grandmother also expressed, “Yuchen is a sensible child, and it breaks my heart to see him suffer.”
The case has sparked widespread condemnation online. Netizens have said, “The teacher was not arrested? Does the Protection of Minors Law not apply now?””This teacher should be dismissed and held legally accountable.””If her parents were officials, would this case have been delayed for a year?””Release the surveillance video and handle the case according to the law. If the teacher intentionally hit the student, she should be criminally convicted.””Both the teacher, school, and education bureau should be held accountable. It’s unimaginable that they tried to cover this up.””This is attempted murder!””These teachers are all murderers.””Who gave this teacher the audacity to commit such a heinous act?””So pitiful, I hope for a severe punishment!”
(screenshot from webpage)