The Chongqing Fifth Intermediate People's Court openly tried the case of Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen suspected of intentional homicide in accordance with law

Source: Rule of Law Daily - Legal Network

Wu Xiaofeng, an all-media reporter of the Rule of Law Daily, zhan Haifeng

On the morning of July 26, the Fifth Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing Municipality formed a seven-member collegial panel in accordance with the law, and the first instance held a public hearing to hear the case of defendants Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen intentional homicide and the plaintiff chen moumou in the attached civil lawsuit demanding compensation.

The public prosecution alleged that Zhang Bo and Chen Moumou had given birth to daughter Zhang Moujia (victim, aged 2) and son Zhang Mouyi (victim, aged 1) after marrying in August 2017. Around April 2019, Zhang Bo filed for divorce from Chen Moumou, while concealing the fact that he was married and had children to pursue netizen Ye Chengchen. Around August of the same year, Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen secretly established a romantic relationship. Later, Ye Chengchen learned that Zhang Bo had a child and continued to associate with Zhang Bo. In February 2020, Zhang Bo and Chen X agreed to divorce, and the two parties agreed that Zhang X A would be raised by Chen X, Zhang X B would be raised by Zhang Bo before the age of six, and Chen X would be raised after the age of six. Ye Chengchen repeatedly told Zhang Bo that he and his parents could not accept that Zhang Bo had a child, and the two conspired many times and agreed to kill Zhang Moujia and Zhang Mouyi by creating an accidental high fall. In June of the same year, Ye Chengchen repeatedly urged Zhang Bo to commit a crime through WeChat. In October of the same year, Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen agreed to take Zhang Moujia to Zhang Bo's home to wait for an opportunity to commit a crime on the pretext of buying clothes for Zhang Moujia. On October 25, Zhang Bo asked his mother to contact Chen moumou to take Zhang moujia to his home rented in a community in the south bank district, but he failed to commit the crime because Chen moumou was always present. On November 1 of the same year, Zhang Bo once again asked Chen to take Zhang Moujia to his home and stay overnight. At about 15:30 the next afternoon, Zhang Bo took advantage of the fact that there was no one else in the house and threw Zhang Moujia and Zhang Mouyi, who were playing in the second bedroom, downstairs from the bay window of the second bedroom, causing Zhang Moujia to die on the spot, and Zhang Mouyi died after being sent to the hospital for rescue. The public prosecution organ held that the defendants Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen jointly intentionally killed people, causing their deaths, and they should be investigated for criminal responsibility for intentional homicide in accordance with law.

Chen X, the plaintiff in the attached civil lawsuit, demanded that the second defendant compensate for economic losses such as funeral expenses, lost work expenses, transportation expenses, etc., and bear joint and several liability for compensation.

During the trial, the court conducted a court investigation around the facts and evidence of the crime alleged by the public prosecution and the claims of the plaintiff in the attached civil lawsuit. During the court debate stage, both the prosecution and defense, as well as the plaintiff and agent ad litem in the attached civil lawsuit, fully expressed their opinions. After the court arguments, defendants Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen and the plaintiff in the attached civil lawsuit, Mr. Chen, made their final statements. In the final presentation stage, Chen X, the plaintiff in the attached civil action, said in court that he would withdraw the attached civil action and requested that the two defendants be severely punished. The tribunals have equally and fully guaranteed the procedural rights of all participants in the proceedings. The defendant's relatives, the victim's relatives, people's congress deputies, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, journalists, and the public observed the trial.

In the end, the court adjourned the court and announced the verdict at a later date.