A man surnamed Tian, 56, stood trial in Haidian district for suspected arson, the Beijing News reported Thursday.
Tian said that his sister sold three houses inherited from their deceased father, one of which their father promised to him.
In August 2012, when the three buyers came to the house Tian wanted to exchange contracts, Tian suddenly appeared, cut the gas pipe as he held a lighter and a knife to his throat, declaring if he could not have the house, no one could.
After police and firefighters evacuated all the building's residents, Tian set fire to the kitchen. Firefighters put out the flames and pulled Tian out.
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