CHINA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED OF TEMPLE KILLINGS

a Chinese farmer was sentenced to death for the murder of 10 people in a Taoist temple in north-west China. Qiu Xinghua, 47, was found guilty of the murders at the Tiewadian temple in Ankang, in the country's Shaanxi province. The victims were aged between 12 and 62 and included the temple abbot. It was reported that Qiu was also found guilty of another killing in Suizhou, Hubei province. The abbot, five temple staff and four pilgrims were killed on July 16 in the temple. Nine of the victims were male and one female. Abbot Xiong Wancheng's body had been mutilated, Xinhua news agency said. Early reports said the motive for the attack may have been revenge because Qiu had apparently had an argument with temple staff a few days before the attack.