Update | China’s ‘smiling killer’ sentenced to death for 1996 murder that saw innocent teenager executed
China’s “smiling killer” – who admitted murdering 10 people – sentenced to death today for 1996 rape and murder of a woman for which an innocent teenager was executed.
China’s “smiling killer”, who went on trial last month after admitting the 1996 rape and murder of a woman for which an innocent teenager was executed, was sentenced to death today, state media reports.
Hohhot Intermediate People’s Court was told Zhao, dubbed “the smiling killer”, killed 10 people and also raped 13 women and young girls – the youngest of whom was only 12 – between April 1996 and July 2005.
Zhao, who stole items and money totalling 34,900 yuan (about HK$44,000) during his crimes, was also fined 53,000 yuan and ordered to pay costs of 102,768 yuan to his victims.
He was arrested in 2005 and confessed to earlier murders, including the rape and murder of a woman in a public toilet in Hohhot in April 1996.
Zhao’s original 2006 trial was adjourned after he told the court prosecutors had failed to charge him for the 1996 rape and murder. But he never stood trial again until last month.