[File photo]

The trial of a German couple accused of brutally raping and killing a Chinese student has once again sparked public concern over the safety of overseas Chinese.

The hearing, which took place on Nov. 25, investigated claims that 21-year-old Sebastian F. and 20-year-old Xenia I. raped and attacked Li Yangjie, a 25-year-old Chinese student in Dessau, Germany, in May. According to Deutsche Welle, a German broadcaster, the male defendant is also implicated in another rape case from 2013.

The female defendant allegedly helped her boyfriend rape the victim in an effort to save their relationship, due to her own inability to satisfy the male defendant’s sexual appetite. It is then alleged that the pair lured Li into an abandoned house while she was jogging and raped her repeatedly, leaving her with injuries that the couple believed to be fatal. When they returned to find the girl still alive, they hid her in a pile of underbrush, according to Deutsche Welle.

The hearing ended after one hour. The two defendants have opted not to publicly address the allegations against them for the time being, AFP reported.

Li Yangjie.

Since the two defendants were under 18 when the rape took place, the court could view the case as either a juvenile criminal offence or adult criminal offence, which respectively boast maximum sentences of 15 years in prison or life imprisonment, said court spokesperson Frank Straube during an interview with AFP.

The trial has led to fierce online debate across Chinese social media. The hashtag “MissingChineseGirlInGermany” has garnered over 35 million page views as of press time, with most comments criticizing the defendants and expressing sorrow for the victim.

This is not the first time that Chinese students, in particular females, have been victims of violence and sexual abuse in Germany. In November, a Chinese student was raped while on her way home. The Chinese consulate in Düsseldorf confirmed the incident on Nov. 18, urging German authorities to investigate the case. That incident also incensed the Chinese public, garnering 110 million page views under its own hashtag as of press time.

The victim and Chinese consulate in Düsseldorf could not be reached for comments as of press .

“We just want justice from the German authorities. I have heard about several cases of Chinese girls being sexually harassed in Germany, but the local police could not offer enough help and protection. I hope Li’s case will raise public awareness about the safety of overseas Chinese,” Yan Hao, a Chinese student studying in Düsseldorf, told People’s Daily Online.