Baby killer in NE China executed

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(Xinhua) 18:51, November 22, 2013

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BEIJING, Nov. 22 -- A Chinese man convicted of murdering a two-month-old baby was executed on Friday, according to the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

Zhou Xijun, the murderer, strangled the baby after stealing a vehicle with the infant inside in March in Jilin Province.

He was executed in Changchun, capital of Jilin, after the SPC checked and approved the death penalty.

The execution was carried out under the supervision of local prosecutors.

On March 4, Zhou stole an SUV parked by the side of a road in Changchun and drove onto a highway.

Parents of the baby reported the theft to the police and asked help from radio stations who appealed to the public to look out for the vehicle.

When Zhou found the baby in the back seat, he strangled the infant and buried him in snow.

On March 5, he turned himself in after massive searches for the baby by the police and the public.

In May, Zhou, 48, was sentenced to death and deprived of his political rights for life by the local court.

After the announcement of the sentence, Zhou appealed to the court for a more leniency on the grounds that he surrendered to police and confessed his crimes.

In July, the court rejected the appeal and upheld the verdict on the basis of his extremely cruel crimes and the serious consequences that resulted. The local court reported the case to the SPC for approval of the sentence.

The SPC checked and approved the death penalty for theft and murder committed in extremely cruel circumstances and of vicious mind.