Yunnan court changes suspended death sentence to execution after retrial

A man initially given a suspended death sentence for a series of violent crimes has had his sentence changed to death following a retrial by a court in Yunnan province.

The Yunnan High People's Court sentenced Tian Yongming to death on Tuesday for intentional homicide, ruling that the initial suspended death sentence was inappropriate and required correction.

The retrial revealed that in September 1996, after Tian's rape of a woman surnamed Zhao was discovered, he retaliated by attacking her with a knife, leading to his imprisonment. Upon his release on July 15, 2002, Tian sought another opportunity to harm Zhao.

On the evening of Nov 13, 2002, Tian broke into Zhao's home armed with a knife. When discovered, Zhao managed to escape, but Tian pursued her. Liu Mingfu, a fellow villager, attempted to intervene, only to be fatally stabbed multiple times by Tian. Tian then caught up with Zhao, inflicting several stab wounds that resulted in minor injuries.

Tian managed to evade capture until his arrest on Feb 24, 2022.

In November 2022, the Yuxi Intermediate People's Court in Yunnan sentenced Tian to death with a two-year reprieve and deprived him of political rights for life. Tian appealed this decision. The high court, adhering to the principle of "no increase in sentence upon appeal" as per the Criminal Procedure Law, initially upheld the original ruling on Oct 26, 2025.

However, two days later, the high court announced a rehearing, citing legal misapplications and inappropriate sentencing.

On Tuesday, the high court stated that Tian's actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for national laws and social ethics. Despite his release from prison, Tian showed no remorse, committing further violence that resulted in one death and one injury.

"The malicious intent was profound, and the circumstances were particularly heinous, posing a significant threat to individuals and society. Given the gravity of his repeat offenses, a harsher punishment is warranted," it said.

While the facts and conviction were clear in the original ruling, the court pointed out errors in law application and inappropriate sentencing, necessitating rectification.

It added that the death sentence has been submitted to the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, for review. In China, death penalties made by lower courts require approval from the top court before execution.

Xu Hao, a lawyer based in Beijing, said that if Tian is dissatisfied with the outcome, he has the right to submit another appeal and defense opinion to the high court during the top court's review of his death penalty.

According to Jiupai News, a media outlet in Hubei province, Tian was initially sentenced to nine years in prison in 1996 for raping his sister-in-law, Zhao, and attempting to kill her, alongside charges of harboring stolen goods.

After his release, Tian retaliated against Zhao and stabbed Liu multiple times, causing hypovolemic shock and death. Zhao sustained injuries to her abdomen, arms, and other areas. Bystanders eventually stopped Tian, according to the news outlet.

Following the incident, Tian was listed as a fugitive by public security authorities. On Feb 24, 2022, police in Changsha, Hunan province, arrested him in a rental apartment using video surveillance and intelligence analysis.