CHINA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MULTIPLE MURDER IN GUIZHOU

a man was sentenced to death for murdering a county head, four of his relatives and a nursemaid in southwest China's Guizhou Province. Cao Hui, 43, a native of Xingren County, Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, was convicted of murdering Wen Jiangang, former magistrate of Xingren County, his wife, son, mother-in-law, sister and nursemaid on November 27, 2006, and stealing 13,000 yuan (US$1,700) and a mobile phone, according to the intermediate people's court in the prefecture. He said he broke into Wen's home at about 10pm and killed five adults with a dagger and hammer. He later killed Wen's 5 year old son when he realised the boy had been awakened by the noise Cao made while searching the house for valuables. On September 3, 2006, Cao also robbed a villager named Luo Kun in the county of 200 yuan and a cell phone. The court also ordered Cao to pay 39,000 yuan in compensation.