High court overturns life imprisonment sentence in loan-shark stabbing case

The life sentence given to a man who stabbed a debt collector to death has been overturned by the high court in Shandong province.

22 year old Yu Huan from Liaocheng was found guilty of stabbing four debt collectors, one of them fatally, after they turned up at a company run by his mother, insulting her, demanding money and making threats.

Yu Huan listens to the final judgment on June 23, 2017. [Photo: Weibo]

He was sentenced to life imprisonment in February this year, but appealed against the punishment along with three other defendants.

After a review of the case, the court decided that the actions of the defendant amounted to 'Justifiable defense' and warranted a lighter punishment. 

But the high court also ruled his actions exceeded necessary limits with serious results, and handed out a new sentence of five years in jail.

The case caused a public outcry after reports that the defendant's lawyer planned to sue local police for their alleged "inaction" in handling the case. However, the court also said in its ruling on Friday that police malpractice related to the case did not constitute dereliction of duty.

Yu's case was reheard one month ago.

The presiding judge reads the final judgment for Yu Huan's case on June 23, 2017. [Photo: Weibo]