The Qingdao Intermediate People's Court on Thursday handed down life sentences to two martial arts coaches and a suspended sentence to another for the beating death of an 8-year-old boy at a club in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.
A boy surnamed Zhai, born in 2014, joined a martial arts club run by the defendant surnamed Zhang on June 10, 2023.
Martial Arts Clubs Involved
Because Zhai Jun did not perform his techniques properly, Zhang, who was teaching him, his son, who was helping him, and another coach, Li, assaulted the boy and tied him up on June 18, 2023.
Mr Zhai was later found unconscious and in a coma and taken to hospital for emergency treatment but died despite rescue efforts, the court heard.
Jang reported the incident to the police that afternoon, and the three were taken to the police station where they confessed to the crime.
The court found that the defendants Zhang and Li intentionally used violent means to physically harm Zhai, causing his death, during instruction and training. Their actions constitute intentional injury. The long-term beating and tying up of the underage student was serious in nature, cruel in the way it was carried out, serious in consequence and caused significant social damage, the court said.
As a result, Zhang and Li were sentenced to life imprisonment and permanently deprived of their political rights.
Zhang's son also participated in the crime and was found guilty of intentional injury. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years.
The court said the three defendants are prohibited from working in jobs that involve close contact with minors.
