Court confirms death sentence
Source: Xinhua |
May 21, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE student who stabbed a woman to death after he'd knocked her down in his car had his appeal against the death sentence rejected yesterday.
The Higher People's Court of Shaanxi Province in northwest China announced its decision in the case of Yao Jiaxin after a brief adjournment.
"We are satisfied with the verdict, which echoes the opinion of the majority of the public. Justice has prevailed," Zhang Xian, lawyer for the victim's family, said.
Yao, 21, a student at the Xi'an Conservatory of Music, was convicted of murdering Zhang Miao last October in the provincial capital city of Xi'an to prevent her from reporting an incident in which Yao hit her with his car.
He was sentenced to death by the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court on April 22.
The case aroused widespread public outcry over the increasing number of reckless incidents by the country's wealthy younger generation.
After Yao's verdict was read, applause was heard in the courtroom while some people even lit firecrackers in front of the courthouse to support the court's decision.
"Yao stabbed the victim's chest, stomach and back several times until she died. The motive was extremely despicable, the measures extremely cruel and the consequences extremely serious," yesterday's judgment read.
"Although Yao has no criminal record and surrendered himself to the police four days after the incident, the court has still decided to deny him leniency."
Yao's lawyer had argued that Yao had killed "in the heat of passion" and pleaded for leniency, saying: "Depression was to blame, to some extent, for the killing."
Previous media reports said Yao was forced by his parents to practice the piano, resulting in him occasionally smashing the piano keys to vent his anger. Yao's lawyer claimed he might have "mechanically" stabbed the victim several times because of this habit.
The claim was rejected by the court at his trial.
About 100 people, including students and relatives of Yao and Zhang, attended yesterday's hearing.
In a short speech, Yao said he deeply regretted what he did and presented a letter of remorse to the victim's family.
"I feel I hold no moral ground to defend myself in the face of a husband who lost his wife and a two-year-old toddler who lost his mom," a tearful Yao said. "I only hope the court can give me a chance. I can be a law-abiding citizen."
The Higher People's Court of Shaanxi Province in northwest China announced its decision in the case of Yao Jiaxin after a brief adjournment.
"We are satisfied with the verdict, which echoes the opinion of the majority of the public. Justice has prevailed," Zhang Xian, lawyer for the victim's family, said.
Yao, 21, a student at the Xi'an Conservatory of Music, was convicted of murdering Zhang Miao last October in the provincial capital city of Xi'an to prevent her from reporting an incident in which Yao hit her with his car.
He was sentenced to death by the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court on April 22.
The case aroused widespread public outcry over the increasing number of reckless incidents by the country's wealthy younger generation.
After Yao's verdict was read, applause was heard in the courtroom while some people even lit firecrackers in front of the courthouse to support the court's decision.
"Yao stabbed the victim's chest, stomach and back several times until she died. The motive was extremely despicable, the measures extremely cruel and the consequences extremely serious," yesterday's judgment read.
"Although Yao has no criminal record and surrendered himself to the police four days after the incident, the court has still decided to deny him leniency."
Yao's lawyer had argued that Yao had killed "in the heat of passion" and pleaded for leniency, saying: "Depression was to blame, to some extent, for the killing."
Previous media reports said Yao was forced by his parents to practice the piano, resulting in him occasionally smashing the piano keys to vent his anger. Yao's lawyer claimed he might have "mechanically" stabbed the victim several times because of this habit.
The claim was rejected by the court at his trial.
About 100 people, including students and relatives of Yao and Zhang, attended yesterday's hearing.
In a short speech, Yao said he deeply regretted what he did and presented a letter of remorse to the victim's family.
"I feel I hold no moral ground to defend myself in the face of a husband who lost his wife and a two-year-old toddler who lost his mom," a tearful Yao said. "I only hope the court can give me a chance. I can be a law-abiding citizen."
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