NGO fights to clear name in child death controversy

Charity organization Children's Hope Foundation (CHF) held a press conference yesterday to clarify public doubts over the death of 4-year-old Zhou Jiayi, known as Yiyi, who died at the foundation's Beijing foster center on December 9, 2011.

A gory photo of Yiyi's autopsy was posted on Sina Weibo Sunday, which provoked Web users who said it was disrespectful to the dead.

CHF director Zhang Wen reiterated the center was not responsible for Yiyi's death, and showed reporters a copy of the autopsy report at the press conference.

The autopsy was conducted at a morgue, and that's why Yiyi was lying in a bed with colorful sheets, which did not look like a formal autopsy, said a medical expert from Huaxia Evidence Identification Center, the Legal Mirror reported. Yiyi suffered brain injuries after being abused by her mother in Zhengjiang, Zhejiang Province, in May 2010, and came to Beijing for treatment in November the same year.

Wu Xuxin posted the autopsy picture Sunday, saying she knew Yiyi while volunteering at the center and had trouble finding out the truth.

"I saw children beaten at the center, and I have evidence, so do some other volunteers and parents who have been mentally hurt," Wu alleged. Wu has been cooperating in police investigations by providing evidence such as pictures and medical exam reports, she said.

The foundation reported to the police Monday to fight against online slander, according to their statement.

The foundation is a legal, nonprofit organization devoted to helping children and all the online accusations are groundless, said Zhang Zhiwei, a Beijing lawyer who has been voluntarily helping Yiyi since 2010.

"Yiyi's family and the foundation could file a law suit against infringement of their reputation," he said.