Boy's aunt's suicide irrelevant to case: relatives

TAIYUAN - Relatives of a six-year-old boy whose eyes were gouged out in northern China's Shanxi province said the suicide early on Friday morning of his's aunt did not indicate her involvement in the case.

The boy, Guo Bin, was lured by an unknown woman with yellow-dyed hair on Saturday evening into a field, where she gouged out his eyes.

Guo's aunt, the wife of Guo's father's older brother, killed herself after jumping into a well in Qiaojiazhuang village in Fenxi county.

Wang Li, Guo's mother, told Xinhua by phone that the boy's aunt did not have dyed hair, and made a phone call to ask about the boy's condition the night before she committed suicide.

Wang said that Guo had not mentioned his aunt, and is easily agitated, refusing to recall details or hear talk involving the case.

Wang's brother said it was unlikely that the aunt would have hurt Guo though there were minor disputes between the two families, and they expect police to further probe the case.

On Tuesday, Police in Fenxi county posted a public notice offering an award of 100,000 yuan ($16,129) for tips leading to the capture of the criminal.

Initial investigation has ruled out the possibility of organ trafficking involvement in the case.

Guo has been hospitalized at Shanxi Eye Hospital. Doctors in charge of treatment said he would be blind for the rest of his life, although the eyes had been recovered.

The provincial health authorities have suggested that the cost of the boy's medical treatment be reduced or exempted.