Across China: Yunnan

Death sentence commuted

A police officer who committed manslaughter had his death sentence commuted after he voluntarily surrendered to authorities, a spokesman for Yunnan Provincial Higher People's Court said yesterday.

Ji Zhongchun, a sergeant of Mengzi county's public security bureau, killed a man with his pistol on Feb 13, after a fierce struggle between the two men. The Intermediate People's Court of Honghe prefecture sentenced him to death with civil damages of 50,000 yuan ($7,320) to the victim's family. Ji later appealed to the Yunnan Provincial Higher People's Court, which ruled that Ji be sentenced to death with a 2-year reprieve, with civil damages unchanged.