CHINA: EX-SOCCER STAR AND FRIEND GET DEATH SENTENCES

a former soccer player was sentenced to death with two years' reprieve in China for killing a man after failing to pay gambling debts last year. Wen Junwu was also charged with stealing from Li Jiahao, the man he killed, the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court said. Wen, 30, who was widely regarded as a promising star pleaded guilty to the crimes in court. Two of Wen's friends Xie Weicheng and Liu Simin, who were involved in the case, were sentenced to death with two years' reprieve and six years in jail, respectively. Wen and Xie owed Li up to 80,000 yuan ($11,700) in gambling debts, the court said. Wen and Xie persuaded Liu to join the plot to kill Li in the downtown district of Haizhu in Guangzhou, after they failed to pay gambling debts. The three were arrested two weeks later. They were also ordered to pay more than 330,000 yuan in compensation to Li's family.