China takes fresh look at gangster’s ‘murder’
After widespread calls for leniency, top prosecutor to re-examine evidence against Shandong man jailed for life for killing thug in loan dispute
China’s top prosecutor’s office said on Sunday that it would investigate whether a man jailed for life for murdering a gangster acted in self-defence, amid public demands for leniency in the case.
Shandong man Yu Huan was jailed for life by the Liaocheng Intermediate People’s Court last month for killing gangster Du Zhihao in Guan county last year.
Du was one of 11 thugs who confronted Yu and his mother, Su Yinxia, at Su’s brake-lining factory over a loan repayment on April 14.
Su, the owner of Shandong Yuanda Industry and Trade, had borrowed 1 million yuan (HK$1.23 million) from a loan shark at a 10 per cent monthly interest rate in 2014. She had paid back 1.53 million yuan by April 14 but the gangsters demanded more money. The gangsters beat up Su and Yu in the factory’s reception area, and Du also pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals.
A passing factory worker called the police. Officers arrived and told the gangsters to settle the matter peacefully. After the officers left, Yu and Su said they also wanted to go but the gangsters barred their way. Yu then picked up a fruit knife and stabbed four of the gang, including Du, according to the Liaocheng court’s verdict. Du died of wounds sustained in the attack.
The court found Yu guilty of intentional wounding and jailed him for life. The provincial high court agreed on Friday to hear Yu’s appeal against the sentence. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate said the case was a priority and it would investigate whether Yu acted in self-defence.