Jilted lover arrested for trying to kill girlfriend after square dancing romance

A jilted lover accused of trying to kill his girlfriend has been arrested for attempted murder.

The suspect, a 50-year-old man surnamed Liu, fell in love with a woman surnamed Xie through square dancing last year.

But by last June, Xie had had enough of him, his bad temper and his suspected love affairs, according to prosecutors of Songjiang District.

Liu, however, refused to break up. Xie alienated him by dancing with others, but all that did was to inflame his temper. At the end of July, Liu went to Xie's home and begged her not to leave him, but his mission failed, prosecutors said.

The next day, he followed her to the park. There, he begged her again, but Xie refused to change her mind. Liu then stabbed her in the throat. Despite bleeding, Xie managed to run for help, at which point Liu cut his own throat, prosecutors said.

Passers-by phones for help and Liu and Xie were taken to hospital. Xie had dozens of stitches on her neck, while Liu just suffered slight cuts. Both have since recovered.