Murderers in Urumqi riots will not appeal

URUMQI: Three people who were given death sentences for their crimes in the July 5 riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, will not appeal the rulings.

Eight of 21 defendants tried in court for their violence in the deadly riots, which left 197 dead and more than 1,700 injured, will not appeal sentences handed out by the Intermediate People's Court of Urumqi, said Shi Lixin, the court's president.

The 21 defendants, the first batch of rioters to be tried, were convicted two weeks ago. Twelve were given death sentences, including some with a two-year reprieve, a sentence usually commuted to life in prison. The others were sentenced to life in prison and five to lesser prison terms.