Gang leader executed in central China for murder, other crimes

Criminal gang leader Du Shaoping, a convict of multiple crimes including murder, was executed Monday in central China's Hunan Province.

The execution came after Du's death sentence was approved by the Supreme People's Court on Jan. 16. The Intermediate People's Court of Huaihua carried out the execution after Du met his next of kin, according to the court.

An investigation found that Du was contracted to build a playground for Xinhuang No. 1 Middle School in Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County in December 2001 and hired his accomplice Luo Guangzhong to take charge of the project.

During the construction, Du became dissatisfied with Deng Shiping, a staff member of the school who oversaw the construction. Du and Luo killed Deng on Jan. 22, 2003 and buried Deng's remains under the playground.

Since 2008, a 13-member crime group led by Du used violent and threatening means to collect usury principal and interest, meddled in civil disputes and sought illegal benefits. They also committed crimes including illegal detention, gathering crowds for fighting and forced transactions.

In mid-December, the court in Huaihua sentenced Du to death for multiple crimes including murder. The Hunan Provincial Higher People's Court upheld the death sentence on Jan. 10 after Du appealed.