[4] Compiled from: Red Star News
 
Case review
Yesterday, the Nanchang Intermediate People's Court in Jiangxi Province publicly pronounced the first-instance verdict for defendant Lao Rongzhi in the case of intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping. The defendant Lao Rongzhi was convicted of intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping, and was sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life, and had all personal property confiscated. After the first-instance verdict, the defendant Lao Rongzhi immediately stated her intention to appeal.

 
 

After trial, it was established that the defendant Lao Rongzhi and Fa Ziying (already sentenced in a separate case) were in a romantic relationship. Between 1996 and 1999, they conspired and divided roles, with Lao Rongzhi working as an entertainer in entertainment venues to identify targets, and Fa Ziying carrying out violence. They jointly committed robbery, kidnapping, and intentional homicide in four incidents across Nanchang City in Jiangxi Province, Wenzhou City in Zhejiang Province, Changzhou City in Jiangsu Province, and Hefei City in Anhui Province. After the crimes, Lao Rongzhi fled using aliases such as "Shirley" and was apprehended by police on November 28, 2019.
 
The court found that the defendant Lao Rongzhi, in collusion with others, unlawfully and intentionally deprived victims of their lives, constituting the crime of intentional homicide; with the intent of illegal possession, she used violence and threats to rob victims of their property, constituting the crime of robbery; and with the intent of extorting property, she kidnapped victims, constituting the crime of kidnapping. Lao Rongzhi played a primary role in the joint crimes and was the principal offender, and should be punished for all crimes in which she participated. After being brought to justice, Lao Rongzhi truthfully confessed to the kidnapping in Changzhou, which constituted a confession. Lao Rongzhi's intentional homicide resulted in five deaths; robbery resulted in one death, with a huge amount of stolen property and the circumstance of home invasion; kidnapping resulted in one death, with a ransom of over 70,000 yuan. The criminal circumstances were particularly vile, the methods especially cruel, the subjective malice extremely deep, and the personal danger and social harm extremely high, with severe consequences and crimes, warranting severe punishment according to law. Although there was a confession, it was insufficient for a lighter sentence. Lao Rongzhi committed multiple crimes and should be punished accordingly. The above verdict was thus rendered.
 
 
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
Article 232 [Intentional Homicide]
Whoever intentionally commits homicide shall be sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years; if the circumstances are relatively minor, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years.
 
Article 263 [Robbery]
Whoever robs public or private property by violence, coercion, or other methods shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined; under any of the following circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment, or death, and shall also be fined or have property confiscated:
(1) Robbery committed by intruding into a residence;
(2) Robbery committed on a public means of transportation;
(3) Robbing a bank or any other financial institution;
(4) Committing robbery multiple times or involving a huge amount of property;
(5) Causing serious injury or death during a robbery;
(6) Impersonating military or police personnel to commit robbery;
(7) Committing robbery with a firearm;
(8) Robbing military supplies or materials for emergency rescue, disaster relief, or relief aid.
 
Article 239 [Crime of Kidnapping]
Whoever kidnaps another person for the purpose of extorting property, or kidnaps another person as a hostage, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years or life imprisonment, and shall also be fined or have their property confiscated; if the circumstances are relatively minor, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 5 years but not more than 10 years, and shall also be fined.
Whoever commits the crime mentioned in the preceding paragraph and kills the kidnapped person, or intentionally injures the kidnapped person, causing serious injury or death, shall be sentenced to life imprisonment or death, and shall also have their property confiscated.
Whoever steals an infant or young child for the purpose of extorting property shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs.

 

 
[1] The author's perspective
Throughout the entire court trial, Lao Rongzhi kept emphasizing that she was not the principal offender and had no criminal intent. Lao Rongzhi repeatedly begged the judge to give her a chance to start over, even stating that she had already acknowledged her mistakes and repented, and would actively compensate the victims' families. Ridiculously, during the evidence cross-examination phase, Lao Rongzhi did not actively cross-examine but only stressed how miserable her life had been, claiming that all her past actions were coerced by Fa Ziying. To increase credibility, she even said she never told lies. When the prosecutor immediately asked if she had ever spoken a single truthful word during the 20 years of her fugitive life, Lao Rongzhi could not answer. This shows that Lao Rongzhi's performance in court was not genuine repentance but merely an attempt to evade legal punishment. Additionally, to seek a lighter sentence, Lao Rongzhi repeatedly claimed to confess guilt, but when faced with specific criminal facts, she vehemently denied participating in the crimes. Such contradictory behavior also indicates that this heinous woman is not worthy of sympathy.
 
In fact, if we think carefully, if what Lao Rongzhi said were true, why did she continue to flee for 20 years after Fa Ziying was executed in 1999, instead of surrendering? Furthermore, even if she was initially coerced by Fa Ziying, did she never feel moved when those innocent lives were taken before her eyes? Did she never feel a trace of guilt in her conscience when committing each appalling crime? Therefore, Lao Rongzhi's statements cannot withstand scrutiny and are even self-contradictory. The author believes that the current first-instance death sentence is legal and reasonable, and even if Lao Rongzhi appeals, the possibility of changing the outcome is extremely slim.