Three sentenced over fatal arson attack in China

QINGDAO - One person was sentenced to death while two others got life in prison Thursday in East China's Shandong province over a fatal land dispute-triggered arson attack, which killed one and injured three.

Qingdao Intermediate People's Court sentenced Wang Yuefu to death for arson and provocation crimes.

Du Qunshan, former official of Dujiatuan Village, Pingdu County and Li Qing were sentenced to life in prison. Four others, including real estate developer Cui Lianguo, received prison terms ranging from six to 19 years.

Wang and Cui said they would appeal.

A tent, which was being used by villagers trying to stop their land being seized by developers in Dujiatuan, went up in flames on March 21, 2014.

Du and Wang attempted to force the villagers to leave by setting fire to the tent. Wang and three of the other defendants, all of whom were wielding knives, poured gasoline over the tent and set it on fire.

Twelve local officials, including two vice mayors of Pingdu, were reprimanded for the incident.