Man jailed over failed murder-suicide

A 24-year-old Yunnan province man has been sentenced to three years in prison for trying to strangle his lover in June after she refused to break off a relationship with another man, a district court said Wednesday.

The defendant, who was not identified, met the older woman in August 2011 when he started working at the barbecue restaurant she managed, according to a press release from the Xuhui District People's Court.

The defendant fell hard for the woman, who was also not identified, and began pursuing her the following April, the court said. Although the defendant repeatedly professed his feelings for the woman, she always turned him down because of their age difference.

The court did not state the woman's age.

The woman thought the matter was settled until the defendant stole into her room at the restaurant one night in February 2013, the court said. He said he came there to talk, but insisted on staying the night.

Although the defendant's behavior upset her, she allowed him to sleep in her room. They slept together several more times.

The defendant continued to propose to her, and she continued to refuse him. He didn't know that she was already in a relationship with another man. That man showed up in June, which sent the defendant into a jealous rage. After catching the couple talking together in the woman's room, the defendant tried attacking him with a knife. The woman managed to talk him down by promising that the other man would leave a few days later.

When the other man didn't leave, the defendant confronted the woman. They started arguing. She wanted to talk it out, but the defendant only got angrier, the court said. He wrapped his hands around her neck and choked her until she passed out.

Thinking she was dead, the defendant moved her body to her room on the second floor. He noticed she was still breathing, but didn't do anything else to harm her.

Instead, he took out a knife and slit his wrist. The woman regained consciousness in time to call for help, and police arrived in time to save his life.

The defendant was charged with intentional homicide because he attempted to murder the woman.