New | Four officials convicted over death of watermelon vendor in Hunan
Law enforcers accused of beating hawker to death, in a case that sparked public outcry against official corruption, are handed jail sentences of up to 11 years
A Chinese court on Friday sentenced four municipal security officers to prison for a clash that left a watermelon seller dead and triggered a public outcry.
The Yongxing County People’s Court said in a notice on its website that the four officers were convicted of intentional injury and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 11 years in prison.
The death of 56-year-old watermelon seller Deng Zhengjia in July in the central province of Hunan was blamed on the local enforcement officers, but the county government said happened spontaneously.
The officials in the county in Hunan were enforcing an urban code and tried to prevent Deng and his wife from selling fruit in a place they were not allowed to.
The four officers received sentences of 3.5, four, six and 11 years, the official news agency Xinhua said on a social media account.
They take a life but don’t pay with a life. ... But this is China, where things are not done according to logic
Deng’s death in the fight with the officials became the latest flashpoint of public anger against urban management officers who are notorious for corruption and violence against small businesses and the poor.