Society

4 jailed for teenager death at south China boot camp

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-17 15:39

NANNING - Four men have been sentenced to jail for terms up to 10 years for causing the death of a teenager at an illegal boot camp for Internet addicted children in south China, a local court said Monday.

The four instructors -- Huang Yejian, Guo Zhicai, Wei Gaojian and Li Qunlai -- at the Qihang Salvation Training Camp were sentenced on April 28, said a statement from the Municipal Intermediate People's Court of Nanning, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Huang was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Guo to five years, Wei three years with a three-year reprieve, and Li was given two years with a two-year reprieve.

The four were convicted of intentional injury causing the death of Deng Senshan, 15, in August last year, said the statement.

They court heard they had used wooden boards, bamboo and other weapons to beat Deng, who had been sent by his parents to the camp to kick his Internet addiction, said the statement.

Deng was found dead at about 3 am on August 2, just 14 hours after his arrival at the camp.

An autopsy by the Public Security Bureau of Nanning showed he suffered multiple soft tissue injuries, which caused breathing and circulatory failures.

The unlicensed camp was closed five days after the boy's death, and 122 occupants, all aged under 18, were taken home by their parents.