On the morning of November 30, 2022, the Jiangxi Provincial Higher People's Court publicly sentenced the second instance of the case of intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping appeal.
The Intermediate People's Court of Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province determined in the first instance that from 1996 to 1999, the defendant Lao Rongzhi and Fa Ziying (has been executed for death) conspired, and Lao Rongzhi was engaged in escort services in entertainment venues, looking for the target of the crime, and Fa Ziying committed violence. The two jointly committed four crimes of robbery, kidnapping and intentional homicide in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and Hefei City, Anhui Province, killing 7 victims. After the incident, Lao Rongzhi used a pseudonym such as "Sherley" to escape for a long time and was arrested by the public security organs on November 28, 2019. The Nanchang Intermediate People's Court found that the defendant Lao Rongzhi was guilty of intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping, and punished multiple crimes for multiple crimes. He decided to execute the death penalty, deprive political rights for life, and confiscate all personal property. After the verdict was announced, Lao Rongzhi appealed. The Jiangxi Higher People's Court held a public hearing from August 18 to 20, 2022. The facts determined in the second instance are consistent with the first instance. The Jiangxi Provincial Higher People's Court held that in the joint crimes of intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping, Lao Rongzhi actively carried out activities such as searching, seducing, binding, guarding, threatening the victims, scouting, withdrawing money, and purchasing tools for crimes. He clearly divided the labor with Fa Ziying and cooperated with each other, constituted an accomplice, and had strong independence and obvious effect. The two committed multiple crimes in many places for four years. There is no evidence that Lao Rongzhi was mentally controlled and coerced by Fa Ziying. Lao Rongzhi also played a major role in joint crimes and should be identified as the main culprit in accordance with the law.
Jiangxi Provincial Higher People's Court held that the appellant Lao Rongzhi and Fa Ziying deliberately illegally deprived others of their lives constituted intentional homicide; for the purpose of illegal possession, they used violent and threatening means to rob others, which constituted robbery; kidnapping others for the purpose of extortion of property constituted kidnapping. The multiple crimes committed by Lao Rongzhi should be punished in accordance with the law. Lao Rongzhi and Fa Ziying deliberately killed five people; the robbery caused one person to die, and the amount of robbery in the household was huge; the kidnapping caused one person to die, the crime was particularly bad, the means were particularly cruel, the consequences and crimes were extremely serious, and the subjective malice was profound and the social harm was great, so they should be severely punished in accordance with the law. The appeal of Lao Rongzhi and his defense lawyer did not constitute intentional homicide. It was an accomplice, accomplice, and accomplice, and other reasons for appeal and defense opinions. It is inconsistent with the facts found in the second instance and has no basis in the law and will not be adopted in accordance with the law. The facts determined in the first instance judgment are clear, the evidence is true and sufficient, the conviction is accurate, and the sentencing is appropriate. The trial procedure is legal. The ruling rejected the appeal, upholded the original verdict, and reported to the Supreme People's Court for approval in accordance with the law.
During the second instance trial, the court protected the appellant Lao Rongzhi and his defense lawyer's litigation rights in accordance with the law. The defense lawyer attended the verdict. Some relatives of the parties, some NPC deputies, CPPCC members, , some media reporters and people from all walks of life listened to the verdict online or offline.
Source: CCTV News Jiangxi Higher People's Court
