A Chinese court has sentenced two adolescents in connection with the death of their classmate in March.
The teenagers from Hebei province, identified by their surnames Zhang and Li, were 13 years old when they conspired to murder their classmate Wang and divide his money between them.
According to a court statement issued on Monday, the teenagers attacked Wang with a shovel and buried him in an abandoned vegetable greenhouse. The court described their actions as “especially cruel” and the circumstances as “vile.”
Zhang received a life sentence, while Li was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. The sentencing concludes a brutal case that sparked widespread public outrage upon its initial report.
In March, Wang’s family and lawyer revealed that he had been persistently bullied at school by three classmates. The court also noted that Wang had experienced conflicts with Zhang and Li.
A third adolescent present at the scene, identified by his surname Ma, did not receive criminal punishment, according to the court.
On 3 March, Zhang lured Wang to the greenhouse on a scooter, while Li and Ma followed on another scooter. During the journey, Li informed Ma of Zhang’s plan to kill Wang. Upon arriving at the greenhouse, Zhang attacked Wang with a shovel, and Li assisted him. Ma, witnessing the assault, left the scene.
Zhang and Li buried Wang and then departed together. Subsequently, Zhang used Wang’s phone to transfer money from Wang’s WeChat account to himself and Li. He also removed the SIM card from Wang’s phone and instructed Ma to destroy it.
Police approached Zhang, Li, and Ma, and Ma eventually led them to the crime scene. The court identified Zhang as the principal offender, stating that he orchestrated the crime and incited others to participate, directly resulting in Wang’s death.
Li was deemed an accomplice who actively participated in the act and shared the money with Zhang. Authorities indicated that Ma would undergo correction and education, a standard procedure for minors involved in criminal activities.
Frances Ibiefo
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