A group of gangsters, who were convicted of killing a millionaire in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in 2010, interrupted their trial on new charges Tuesday saying they did not commit the organized crimes that prosecutors say involved brutal beatings and millions of yuan.
The members of the Shenzhen chapter of the Hong Kong-based gang, Xinyi'an, are now facing charges of intentional injury, blackmail and theft. The new charges were laid after complaints were raised by the murder victim's family, who complained the men got off too easy after being convicted earlier of murder.
A local court in 2010 sentenced the men to between 11 months and five years in prison.
On Tuesday the 12 men shouted and interrupted their trail at the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, saying they were tortured into confessing and that prosecutors had fabricated the new charges.
The prosecutors also filed an appeal of the 2010 sentence, saying that they found evidence to show that Jiang Qingru and Wang Yasheng, two leading gang members were linked to the businessman's murder, and also involved in other crimes.
Zhao Jiangnan, a millionaire who ran a coal gas business in the Shajing area in the city's Bao'an district, was shot to death on the street in 2009. The case triggered a citywide uproar.
During their trial Tuesday, Jiang and Wang recanted their previous confession and claimed prosecutors simply made up new charges against them.
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling
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