By A Chinese court has sentenced two teenagers to prison for the brutal killing of their classmate in Hebei province earlier this year. The teenagers, identified by their surnames Zhang and Li, were 13 years old when they conspired to kill Wang, their 13-year-old classmate, and steal his money.
In March, Zhang and Li attacked Wang with a shovel and buried him in an abandoned vegetable greenhouse. The court described their actions as especially cruel and noted the circumstances were vile. Zhang was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Li received 12 years in prison for his involvement.
The murder sparked widespread public outrage when it was first reported, as Wang had been bullied at school by three classmates, according to his family and lawyer. The court also confirmed that Wang had conflicts with both Zhang and Li prior to the attack.
On the day of the attack, Zhang brought Wang to the greenhouse on a scooter. Li and another teen, Ma, followed behind. Along the way, Li told Ma about the planned murder. At the greenhouse, Zhang used a shovel to assault Wang, with Li helping him. After Ma witnessed the assault, he fled the scene. Zhang and Li buried Wang and left. Zhang later transferred money from Wang’s WeChat account to both him and Li. He also destroyed the SIM card from Wang’s phone.
Police later located the crime scene after Ma helped lead them there.
The court considered Zhang the main culprit for planning and instigating the murder. Li was seen as an active participant in the crime, while Ma, who fled the scene, was not sentenced but will undergo correction and education.
The sentencing has drawn mixed reactions from the public. Some people on social media supported the sentences, but others felt they were too lenient, particularly Li’s 12-year sentence. One popular comment on Weibo expressed concern about Li’s potential for revenge upon his release.
The tragedy has left many mournful of Wang’s untimely death, with parents and citizens expressing deep sympathy for the victim. “It’s heartbreaking,” said one Weibo user.
