A Chinese court sentenced two businessmen to death...

A Chinese court sentenced two businessmen to death and gave life sentences to three others accused of murdering a billionaire in eastern China. Zhou Zubao, 50, was stabbed to death in Zhejiang province in February 2003 by thugs hired by his former business partners, Xinhua news agency said. The former chairman of the Beijing-based Zhaodisheng Trade Co. had refused to repay money that the partners had invested in a supermarket he opened after they wanted to pull out of the project. The Intermediate People's Court of Wenzhou city on sentenced hired hitmen Yang Jinfu and his younger brother Yang Jiafu to death and a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, respectively. Zhou's business partners Wang Weijian, Tu Jin'an and Yu Cunjun were jailed for life on intentional homicide charges. They promised Yang, his brother and other cohorts more than 60,460 US dollars for killing Zhou. Zhou's nephew Zhou Jianbo, vice-manager of the market, was killed in an earlier conflict over the disputed money.