Chinese Teenager Who Killed His Classmate With A Sekop Sentenced To Life In Prison

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A court in northern China sentenced 2 teenagers to life imprisonment and 12 years in prison for 2 teenagers who killed a classmate with a shovel.

Male suspects surnamed Zhang and Li were each sentenced to life and 12 years in prison by a court in the town of Handan in Hebei province.

The third suspect surnamed Ma escaped with the sentence of special prison education', in accordance with the law, said the CCTV broadcaster. All three were 13 years old at the time of the murder.

The perpetrator was detained a day after the body of the 13-year-old victim, surnamed Wang, was found on March 10, buried in a shallow hole in a greenhouse on the outskirts of the city.

Reported by Reuters on Monday, December 30, the court said Zhang was responsible for Wang's murder with a shovel and was the party planning the murder.

Meanwhile, Li participated in the next murder and burial.

The court explained that defendant Ma followed his two friends to the scene of the murder and witnessed the murder, but was not involved.

In 2021, China will reduce the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years from 14 years for certain crimes, but still exclude minors from the death penalty.

Suspects aged 12 to 14 years can face criminal responsibility for serious crimes such as intentional murder if prosecutors approve the indictment.