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Prosecutors: Father tossed toddlers out window

By DENG RUI in Chongqing | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2021-07-27 13:54
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The trial of a father in Chongqing accused of killing his two children in November by throwing them out of a high-rise apartment window, took place at Chongqing No 5 Intermediate People's Court on Monday.

On Nov 2, the two children fell at the same time — about 3:30 pm — from the 15th floor of a high-rise apartment building in Chongqing's Nan'an district. The 2-year-old girl died at the scene and the 1-year-old boy died at the hospital.

Zhang, and his girlfriend, Ye Chengchen, were arrested as suspects a month later. Police said the incident was intentional homicide, but the father, Zhang Bo, claimed it was an accident.

Zhang and the children's mother, surnamed Chen, were married in August 2017, and both children were from that union.

In April 2019, Zhang filed for divorce from Chen to pursue an online friend, surnamed Ye. Zhang and Ye established a relationship in August of that year, police said.

Ye discovered later that Zhang had children but kept up the relationship with him.

In February 2020, Zhang and Chen completed their divorce and agreed that Chen would raise their daughter and Zhang would raise their son until age 6.

According to the indictment, Ye had repeatedly told Zhang that she and her parents could not accept the fact that Zhang had children. Subsequently, the pair conspired to kill both children by staging an "accidental fall", and would then start a new family of their own, police said.

In June last year, Ye repeatedly urged Zhang through WeChat to commit the crime, prosecutors said, adding that in October they plotted to bring the daughter to Zhang's apartment and wait for an opportunity to kill her. He would use the excuse of buying new clothes for the girl, prosecutors said. On Oct 25, Zhang asked his mother to contact his ex-wife, Chen, and took his daughter to his rented apartment in Chongqing's Nan'an district. Zhang's plan failed at the time because of the presence of Chen, authorities said.

On Nov 1, Zhang allegedly asked Chen to take their daughter to his apartment again and to stay overnight. At about 3:30 pm the next day, with no other adult around, Zhang allegedly threw both children, who had been playing in a bedroom, out the window.

Prosecutors said the defendants, Zhang and Ye, had jointly committed intentional homicide and that their actions constituted a crime subject to criminal responsibility under the law.

Chen, in a separate civil action, had asked for compensation for economic losses related to funeral expenses, work delays and transportation. However, in her final statement, Chen said she wanted to withdraw that action and instead asked the court to severely punish the two defendants.

The case has sparked outrage online, with many infuriated netizens calling for the death penalty without reprieve for to the alleged killers.

A verdict will be issued later.

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