Man kills brother over love affair

By Ma Lie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-21 07:42

XI'AN: A police officer killed his younger brother because he suspected the man of having an affair with his ex-wife.

Li Wei, 38, fatally shot Li Xiaowei in the house of his ex-wife in Baoji, Shaanxi province on Sunday at about 11am, police said.

"Li Wei killed Li Xiaowei with a gun when he was on duty because of a family conflict," the Baoji public security bureau said.

Police were called to the house and found the younger brother lying in a pool of blood on the stairs between the third and fourth floors.

The man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment but later died.

Li Wei, head of the Weibin brigade of the bureau's patrol detachment, was arrested at the house.

"The killer Li Wei did not leave the spot, and we controlled him and seized his gun there," the police said.

Neighbors said they heard noises but did not pay attention because firecrackers were being burst at a wedding nearby.

Li Wei was described by a colleague of more than 10 years as an easygoing man and a hard worker who took his job seriously.

"I was told that he got divorced last year and his younger brother had been having an affair with his ex-wife for some time," said the policeman who refused to give his name.

Li Wei remains in police custody and investigations into the incident are continuing.

(China Daily 04/21/2009 page5)