Chinese Teens Sentenced for Brutal Murder of Classmate

A 13-year-old victim was killed and buried in a greenhouse by classmates, triggering national outrage and highlighting China's juvenile justice system.

• Two teenagers, aged 13 at the time of the crime, were sentenced in Hebei province for the murder of their classmate surnamed Wang in March 2024.
• The primary defendant, Zhang, received a life sentence for planning and leading the murder, while Li, who assisted, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
• The victim, Wang, had been bullied by the perpetrators and was lured to an abandoned greenhouse, where he was attacked with a shovel and buried.
• A third teen, Ma, who was present but did not participate in the killing, was not criminally punished but will undergo correctional education.
• The case, one of the first to apply China's lowered age of criminal responsibility, has sparked public discussion about juvenile crime and sentencing leniency.

3 Articles

SHINE BBC CNA