The vivid Lamu case, where a raging fire took a life.
Compiled from The Paper
The second-instance trial of the "Internet celebrity Ram burned to death by her ex-husband" case in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, has been concluded. The Sichuan Provincial High People's Court upheld the original verdict, sentencing defendant Tang Lu to death for intentional homicide.
Case review
On September 14, 2020, 30-year-old Ram (real name Amuchu) was live-streaming at her home in Guanyinqiao Town, Jinchuan County, Aba Prefecture, when her ex-husband Tang Lu suddenly broke in, splashed gasoline on her, and set her on fire, causing severe burns. Half a month later, Ram died. On September 17, 2020, the Jinchuan County police reported that suspect Tang Lu had been taken into custody.
In December 2020, the Jinchuan County People's Procuratorate in Aba Prefecture approved the arrest of Tang on charges of intentional homicide. On October 14, 2021, the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People's Court in Sichuan held a public trial for defendant Tang Lu's intentional homicide case and pronounced the verdict in court, finding Tang Lu guilty of intentional homicide, sentencing him to death, and depriving him of political rights for life; he was also ordered to compensate for the material losses caused by the criminal act to the plaintiffs in the incidental civil action.
The court found through trial that defendant Tang Lu and victim A Muchu (known on Douyin as "Black Girl [Lamu]") registered their marriage in 2009. After marriage, they frequently quarreled over household matters, and Tang Lu repeatedly beat A Muchu. They divorced on June 28, 2020. Subsequently, Tang Lu repeatedly sought to remarry A Muchu but was rejected, leading to resentment. Around 8:30 PM on September 14, 2020, Tang Lu went to A Muchu's father's home, poured gasoline on A Muchu while she was livestreaming in the kitchen, and set her on fire, causing burns. A Muchu died from ineffective medical treatment half a month later. Tang Lu was apprehended after fleeing the scene.
The first-instance court found that defendant Tang Lu's actions causing A Muchu's death constituted intentional homicide, with extremely cruel criminal methods, extremely severe social impact, and extremely serious crimes, warranting severe punishment according to law, and thus rendered the above verdict.
After the first-instance verdict, Tang Lu appealed. On December 28, 2021, the second-instance trial was held in Wenchuan County, Aba, and the Sichuan Provincial High People's Court did not announce a verdict in court. According to insiders, in January 2022, the victim's family was notified by the court that the second-instance trial upheld the original verdict, sentencing Tang Lu to death. Recently, the victim's family has received the second-instance judgment.
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
Article 232: Crime of 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 minor, to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years.
[1] The author's perspective
The Lamu case attracted widespread attention not only because Lamu was an internet celebrity, but also due to the combination of factors such as domestic violence, failed marriage, and intentional homicide behind the case. The tragic outcome of the Lamu case has raised public awareness. Many people choose to endure domestic violence, but the result of endurance is escalation, so victims of domestic violence must protect themselves through legal means.
From Lamu's online videos and her family's statements, Lamu was kind and family-oriented. Who would have thought her ex-husband would inhumanely set her on fire, taking a bright and vibrant life from this world.
Lamu is gone, but what happened to her remains an unhealable scar in this world. What we must do is prevent the next Lamu incident. When surrounded by malice, when the same pain and sorrow echo through the world, only actively seeking private and public relief, nipping potential dangers in the bud, can we better protect ourselves and our families.
