Man who killed 5 in deliberate crash executed

Liu Dong, who deliberately caused a car crash that killed five pedestrians and injured eight in 2021, was executed by a court in Dalian, Liaoning province, on Friday after the Supreme People's Court approved the sentence.

Prosecutors came to the court to supervise the execution, according to a statement posted by the Dalian Intermediate People's Court on its WeChat account.

On May 22, 2021, Liu was driving along Wuhui Road in Dalian and came to a red traffic light. While waiting for the light to turn green, he suddenly ran it and hit pedestrians who were crossing the road, killing five and injuring eight.

Liu, who fled the scene, was captured later that afternoon. Local police said that he was distraught over a failed investment.

On Oct 29, 2021, the Dalian court sentenced him to death for the crime of endangering public security. He appealed to the Liaoning High People's Court, but the original ruling was upheld on Feb 9 last year and submitted to the Supreme People's Court, the country's top court, for review.

In China, any death penalty handed down by lower courts should be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for further review. Execution will be allowed if the top court approves the lower court's sentence.

In the Dalian court's statement, it said that the top court approved its judgment as it was made based on sufficient evidence and lawful trial procedures, with accurate application of the law.