Girl's severe beating part of a 'common' pattern

An 11-year-old girl who was thought to have been severely beaten by her mother sustained head injuries caused by sharp objects, according to reports.

The girl, who lives in Lu'an, Anhui province, also has soft tissue injuries to the shoulders, and was found with bloodstains on her feet and legs.

Police said on Thursday that the girl's mother had beaten her. Local media reported that her teachers repeatedly found new injuries, but she refused to tell them how they had occurred.