A waitress who allegedly killed an official and injured another while claiming self-defense from rape has reportedly been charged with "intentional assault" and will have her case heard before a local court, a sign she may avoid going to jail.

"The case will begin at the end of June," Liu Gang, one of Deng Yujiao's two new lawyers, told China Daily yesterday, without disclosing the exact charge.

However, Caijing magazine reported over the weekend that Deng had been formally charged with "intentional assault" by the Badong procuratorate.