The young victim of a horrific acid attack in Sandown could lose her sight forever as doctors battle to save her one remaining eye following the tragic and cruel assault on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old, named locally as Zhijian Zhang, remains in the specialist Odstock Hospital in Salisbury where she is receiving treatment for life changing injuries having suffered burns to her face and upper body when she was allegedly ambushed and dowsed with acid in a shocking attack behind Royal China in Sandown High Street.
Witnesses have described hearing screams of agony during the early hours of Wednesday as the ‘corrosive liquid’ made contact with Ms Zhang’s skin.
The local community has been shocked by the incident with many saying they will boycott the town’s restaurant and takeaway following the tear-jerking revelation of details surrounding the incident.
Scenes of crime officers from the mainland arrived at 16 High Street late on Wednesday afternoon to gather evidence, with witnesses saying that photographs of the area had been taken and a forensic examination of a path way behind the building had also taken place. Police remained on guard outside the property into Thursday.
This photograph (left) shows a stained area of tarmac close to where Police were photographing, leaving a shocking reminder of the events of Wednesday morning.
Today (Friday), the 48-year-old owner of Royal China, Mrs Sau Lin-Hin of Mulberry Way in Ryde, has been remanded in custody having been charged by Police with maliciously and unlawfully causing grievous bodily harm with intent and will appear in front of the Isle of Wight Crown Court on 30th June.
No application for bail was made, however the defending solicitor Mr Oscar Vincent of Vectis Law said bail would be requested when the case goes to Crown Court at the end of the month.
Lin-Hin has not entered a plea and was assisted in court by a Cantonese interpreter, with witnesses saying she was ‘smiling throughout’. Family members were also present at the court hearing.
Relations of Zhijian’s are known to work at Royal China, however it is currently unclear if the alleged attacker and the victim are related.
Residents in the area have described the scarred-for-life victim as ‘beautiful’, with many speculating over the cause of the attack on such a young and well-liked woman. A 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender however has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
Shockingly, the eatery has reopened this evening despite the incident still being fresh in the minds of Islanders and having been reported on a national scale.
