Policeman shot pair dead in self-defence, senior officers insist

The superiors of a police officer who shot dead two villagers in an ethnic minority area of Guizhou last week have insisted that he acted in self-defence.

The incident has become a major talking point on the mainland, and the lawyer representing the families of the dead has said the officer should face criminal charges.

Ran Taiyou, deputy head of Anshun Public Security Bureau, said the two villagers - cousins Guo Yongzhi and Guo Yonghua - 'were in a state of excitement and had tried to grab [the officer's] gun without listening to any persuasion'. He said the villagers were shot when they fought with the officer.

Zhang Lei, deputy head of Pogong township police in Guanling Miao Autonomous County, was trying to mediate a dispute between the Guos and another family last Tuesday. Ran admitted that Zhang had shot five times. Two were warning shots, one was at Guo Yonghua's head and the other two were at Guo Yongzhi. Ran said blood tests showed the cousins were very drunk, while Zhang was sober.

It is the second time that police in Anshun, the city that administers the county, have defended Zhang.

The case has prompted criticism and speculation among internet users and in the media, with serious doubts being expressed over the police account of events.