Man who stabbed colleague to death while drunk executed

Zhang Keping, who stabbed a colleague to death while drunk in 2022, was executed on Sunday after China's top court approved his death sentence.

The execution was carried out by the Haidong Intermediate People's Court in Qinghai province, where Zhang was convicted of intentional homicide and dangerous driving and given the death penalty.

The court said in a statement on Monday that it allowed Zhang to meet family members before his execution, which was supervised by Haidong prosecutors.

In China, a death sentence handed down by lower courts must be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for review. The penalty can only be implemented after it is approved by the top court.

The Haidong court said Zhang and the victim, surnamed Yang, worked for the same company, with Yang being Zhang's superior. In September 2021, when Zhang's job was adjusted by their employer, Zhang became discontented with Yang, believing Yang had made the change and it would affect his performance.

On Aug 3, 2022, while attending a banquet, Zhang received work arrangement messages from Yang, which made him unhappy. After drinking alcohol and concealing a knife in his clothes, Zhang drove to the company and stabbed Yang, who was providing training for employees, multiple times in his chest.

When Yang ran downstairs, Zhang continued stabbing Yang in the back and chest, resulting in the death of Yang, then 37, due to a pierced heart and lungs and massive blood loss.

Zhang was first subdued by onlookers, and then detained by police.

The Haidong court sentenced Zhang to death for the crime of intentional homicide, saying "the killing means of Zhang, who couldn't solve work conflicts with the colleague in a right way, were extremely cruel, as he stabbed the victim more than 10 times".

The ruling was then upheld by the Qinghai High People's Court.

The top court recently approved the convictions and the death penalty, along with a fine of 2,000 yuan ($278) for drunken driving.