A man from northwest China's Shaanxi Province has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve and deprived of his political rights for life for torturing and attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend.

The Shaanxi Provincial Higher People's Court heard that Cai Chao, from Ankang City, fell in love with a colleague Jingjing (pseudonym) after he began to work for Ankang City Telecom Company in March 2006.

However, Jingjing decided to end her relationship with Cai after she found Cai to be "bad tempered, too independent and difficult to communicate with".

Outraged and seeking revenge, Cai went to a local market to buy a knife, rope and some tape. On May 15, Cai forced Jingjing out of the office and took her to his home in a taxi.

He used the rope to tie the girl's hands, legs and feet, and sealed the girl's mouth with tape. Cai tortured her by burning her chest, abdomen and thighs with cigarette burns and pouring boiling water over her.

Then he stabbed her in the chest and abdomen three times, before stabbing himself in the chest twice. The pair was discovered by Cai's father who returned home and called an ambulance.

Jingjing was diagnosed as suffering from severe injuries in the liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach and the chest.

The incident sparked public outcry in the society, with many people donating money to the girl for her medical treatment.

Jingjing, who is still in hospital, has spent about 300,000 yuan (about US$37,500) on medical treatment.

Cai was not arrested until June 2006.

He was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to death without a reprieve in a first-instance trial held by the Intermediate People's Court of Ankang City in January this year.

Both sides appealed the case to Shaanxi Provincial Higher People's Court.

The higher court said Cai was guilty of attempted murder and should be punished accordingly. However it ruled that Cai had shown remorse for his actions and Cai's relatives had also compensated Jingjing with 120,000 yuan (about US$15,000).

The higher court concluded last week that leniency should be shown and the verdict against Cai changed in the final ruling to a death sentence with a two-year reprieve.

(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2007)