Suicide ruling meets with suspicion

Police in Henan province are going to review the death of a college student whose autopsy report said she committed suicide by slashing herself 13 times.

Tian Shuhan, 21, a sophomore majoring in tourism management at the Xinlian College of Henan Normal University in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, was found lying dead in the corridor of a teachers' dormitory on the morning of June 10.

The police found 13 knife wounds in her body including six wounds in the neck and five in the legs.

The autopsy report said that she died of suicide, which the family does not believe.

The police are going to review the autopsy report and re-examine the body, a police officer from the publicity office of Zhongmu county public security bureau, told China Daily on Wednesday.

"Her body has not been cremated yet," the officer said on condition of anonymity.

A police officer of the county public security bureau said that Tian was severely depressed because of academic pressure and killed herself for fear of failing in the exam at the end of the semester, according to a Henan Television Station report.

The police officer did not say how authorities know Tian was depressed. He was adamant that her death was a suicide.

The police could not convince Tian's family members.

Zhang Jianguo, Tian's uncle, told China Daily on Wednesday that Tian was the head of the psychological aid department of the students' union in the college.

"Her psychological and mental status was always healthy and stable," Zhang said. "I am curious why her body was found in the teachers' dormitory building in the morning?"

Both of Tian's parents also said that she was unlikely to kill herself by slashing her body, Zhang said.

A staff member from the publicity office of the college said that the investigation was carried out by the police, and he declined to comment over the issue.

News of Tian's death and the autopsy report met with widespread suspicion on micro blogs, with netizens expressing disbelief at the findings.

Many students in the college also expressed concern, while mourning Tian's death.

Zhang, Tian's uncle, said that the family wants the police to recheck the autopsy report.

"It has been 10 days since my niece's death, and we are still waiting for the truth," he said.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn and xiangmingchao@chinadaily.com.cn