Society

Death, life sentence upheld for cop-killing bros in E China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-13 16:35

JINAN - The higher court of East China's Shandong province on Wednesday confirmed the death penalty and upheld a life imprisonment sentence for two brothers convicted of killing four policemen in a January shootout.

Liu Jianmin, 56, lost the appeal of his life imprisonment sentence for his role as an accessory to murder in December 2010.

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Liu Jianjun, the 51-year-old brother of Liu Jianmin, was given the death penalty for his crimes, which include murder and illegal possession of guns and ammunition, according to the verdict issued by the Higher People's Court of Shandong Province.

Liu Jianmin and Liu Jianjun were initially sentenced to life imprisonment and the death penalty, respectively, on March 14 by the Intermediate People's Court of Tai'an City in Shandong, where the crimes were committed. Liu Jianjun did not appeal his case.

On December 29, 2010, Liu Jianjun and another brother, Liu Lumin, stabbed and killed Dou Guangdong, a civilian who had previously alleged to police that the brothers were guilty of theft, the court was told.

On January 4, Liu Jianjun and Liu Lumin shocked the nation by shooting and killing four policemen in Tai'an while attempting to flee the murder investigation.

While attempting to evade authorities, the Liu brothers hijacked four cars and injured three policemen and two civilians with a homemade pistol and a double-barreled shotgun.

Liu Jianjun shot the then-injured Liu Lumin to death when cornered by the police. He was captured while attempting suicide.