The much-anticipated trial of a Harvard-trained economist accused of defaming his former employer, Peking University (or Beida), started early this week with a bang, with both sides appearing set to lose more than they could gain.

During the court hearing, Zou Hengfu, a former professor at the university, denied through his attorney the libel charge brought against him by Beida and a campus restaurant, Mengtaoyuan, for his 2012 micro blog postings that said Beida's dons preyed on attractive waitresses at the restaurant.

However, the defense could present as evidence only media reports on university professors' involvement in sex scandals to prove Zou's allegation. The defendant claimed to have evidence of sex scandals involving more professors but decided to withhold them from the court "so that the case would not evolve into a farce".