Some people have called her brave; others said she overreacted: whatever the view, a Guangdong woman has sparked controversy and debate after killing one of the men who robbed her.

The 36-year-old businesswoman, identified only as Long, was attacked by three thieves at about 5 am on Sunday, at her home in Shunde in Guangdong province, the Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday.

An eyewitness, surnamed Liang, was quoted by the paper as saying that three robbers, stopped her car as soon as she drove it out of the garage.