30th December 2024 – (Handan) A landmark verdict was delivered by the Handan Intermediate People’s Court in Hebei Province, North China, regarding a case of intentional homicide involving three juvenile suspects – Zhang, Li, and Ma. This case revolved around the tragic killing of a classmate at a junior high school. The court sentenced Zhang to life imprisonment for intentional homicide, coupled with a lifelong deprivation of political rights. Li, another defendant, received a 12-year prison sentence for the same charge. Remarkably, Ma was exempted from criminal punishment in compliance with legal provisions, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency.
Judicial and prosecutorial recommendations were put forth by the Handan Intermediate People’s Court and the Handan People’s Procuratorate. After due scrutiny and endorsement by the special education guidance committee, Ma was assigned to specialized correctional education, as per Xinhua reports.
The court’s investigation revealed that Zhang and Li, both aged 13 at the time of the crime, had conflicts with their 13-year-old classmate Wang, the victim in this tragic incident. Following Zhang’s instigation, the duo conspired multiple times to murder Wang and divide his monetary possessions. Zhang meticulously selected an abandoned vegetable greenhouse as the scene of their crime, equipped with a shovel for the grave’s preparation.
On the fateful day of 10th March, 2024, Zhang enticed Wang outside. Meanwhile, Li, needing to charge his electric bicycle at Ma’s residence, rode with Ma on Ma’s bicycle, while Zhang accompanied Wang on his own vehicle towards the pre-selected greenhouse.
During the journey, Li, under Zhang’s instruction, disclosed the plan to Ma. Upon reaching the greenhouse, Zhang initiated the fatal attack on Wang with the shovel, while Li assisted in restraining Wang. Ma, a witness to the crime, promptly left the scene. Following Wang’s tragic demise, Zhang and Li proceeded to bury Wang’s remains. Subsequently, the trio absconded on their electric bicycles. Zhang orchestrated the transfer of funds from Wang’s WeChat account to his account, later sharing the spoils with Li. Zhang then directed the destruction of Wang’s SIM card by Ma, and the disposal of Wang’s phone by Li.
In the aftermath, Ma was the first to confess, guiding law enforcement to the burial site, as reported by Xinhua.
The court asserted that Zhang and Li consciously deprived another of life, constituting the crime of intentional homicide. The brutality and severity of their actions warranted criminal responsibility, given their ages at the time of the crime – over 12 but under 14 years old. Zhang, the mastermind behind the murder plot, was deemed the principal offender with the greatest culpability.
Li, actively involved in the conspiracy and the fatal act, shared the ill-gotten gains with Zhang. In this joint crime, Li held the status of a principal offender, albeit with lesser responsibility compared to Zhang.
