Death sentence upheld for US citizen charged with homicide

The Zhejiang High People's Court upheld the death sentence of Shadeed Abdulmateen, an American national charged with intentional homicide, on Thursday.

The court turned down the appeal by Abdulmateen, who was convicted of capital murder, and endorsed the original death sentence handed down by the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court. The death penalty verdict will be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for re-examination and approval.

In early 2019 Abdulmateen met the victim, a woman surnamed Chen who was 21 at the time of her murder, claiming he was divorced and single. He gradually established a relationship with Chen.

In May 2021, Chen tried to break up with Abdulmateen several times but he refused and threatened her verbally.

At around 8 pm on June 14, 2021, having arranged to meet with Chen, Abdulmateen arrived at a sidewalk near a bus stop in Ningbo, carrying a folding knife with him.

At around 9:48 pm, he stabbed and cut Chen on her neck with his folding knife several times. After she was too weak to defend herself, Abdulmateen kept stabbing her face repeatedly, which resulted in her death by hemorrhage.

After the first trial, Abdulmateen appealed the ruling. The Zhejiang court insisted the first court's verdict was correct as it was based on clear facts and sufficient evidence and well in compliance with the criminal law of China.

According to the Zhejiang High People's Court, it has fully protected the litigation rights of the defendant and the victim's family.

More than 20 people attended the trial.