Attack And Murder Of Chinese Teenager Draws Additional Fears Of Being A Good Samaritan

Wednesday, news broke of a teenager in China who was lured by a pregnant woman pretending to be in distress, only to later be assaulted and murdered by the woman and her husband.

According to local news source iFeng, the 17-year-old girl, identified in the media as Mei, was on her way home in the city of Jiamusi, in the northeastern province Heilongjiang, when she passed by a pregnant woman who the media identified as Tan, who had fallen down in the street.

Tan asked Mei to help her up and get back to her nearby home. After arriving at Tan’s house, her husband welcomed Mei into the home and offered her a yogurt which he had spiked with sleeping pills.

Thinking the drugs had already taken effect, Tan’s husband attempted to rape Mei. Mei, who was still conscious, was able to fight off the husband. The couple, however, fought back and eventually killed Mei using a blanket to smother her.

According to the couple’s neighbors, the two had divorced after Tan was “caught in bed with another man.” Hoping to win back her ex-husband, Tan vowed to “find him a virgin” to have sex with, to even the score.

Local officials launched an investigation after Mei’s family reported her missing, and discovered surveillance footage of Mei helping Tan from the street and walking to the apartment. Authorities arrested the couple at which point the woman confessed, revealing the details of the murder.

Such violent crimes can only contribute to the growing concern that being a Good Samaritan in China will only lead to trouble. In order to combat such fears, Shenzhen instated the country’s first law aiming to protect people doing good deeds for strangers from being sued or being liable. Unfortunately such a law would still have been ineffective in protecting Mei.

Many netizens have sounded off, verbally crucifying the couple for what they have done not only to Mei, but also for hurting the general cause.