This article refers to an earlier publication on the clarification of the rules in the Chinese Criminal Code concerning the most serious crimes committed by minors (in many 12 to 14 years)
Introduction
The execution of a 13-year-old student in Handan (Hebei Province, China), which occurred on March 10, 2024, shook Chinese public opinion and sparked a national debate on juvenile delinquency, bullying and the hard situation of the alleged “unlearned children” left-behind children). Given the age of the perpetrators and the brutality of the crimes, this case has become a legal precedent in Chinese justice [1] [2].
Victim and Perp
All participants in this tragic event had at the time of the act after 13 years and were students of the same class in the Feixiang territory of Handan [1].
Both the victim and perpetrators belonged to a group of “left children”. These are children from agrarian areas whose parents emigrated to large cities for commercial purposes, leaving them under the care of their grandparents or another relatives [2] [3]. According to the 2020 census, there are nearly 67 million children in China who are frequently more susceptible to intellectual problems, abuse and criminal behaviour [2].
Victim:Wang Ziyao (王子耀) – 13-year-old boy. According to the relation between his household and his lawyer, Wang was for a long time a victim of abuse from his 3 torturers [2] [4]. Prior to his death, he showed a reluctance to go to school and was besides to express suicidal thoughts [4].
Perps: 3 13-year-old boys, identified in court papers and media only by their names:
- Zhang (张某某) – Main initiator and perpetrator of the crime [1] [5].
- Li (李某) – a major accomplice who actively assisted in the execution and shared stolen money with Zhang [1] [5].
- It does. (马某某) – an accomplice who witnessed a execution but did not have a direct physical part in it [1] [5].
Conduct of events
The crime was carefully planned. According to investigative findings and court judgment, the perpetrators (mainly Zhang) planned the killing a fewer days earlier, with the motive for stealing the money Wang had on his WeChat account [6].
Preparations (9 March 2024): The day before the murder, the perpetrators went to an abandoned greenhouse in the village of Zhangzhuang and began digging the pit in which they intended to hide the body [4] [6].
Crime Day (10 March 2024): In the afternoon Zhang lured Wang out on the pretext of having fun together. Before the execution occurred, Wang transferred 191 yuan (about US$26) from his telephone to 1 of the perpetrators [3] [4].
When they reached the abandoned greenhouse, Zhang attacked Wang with a spade, giving him fatal blows. Li helped subdue the victim. He has, seeing the attack, left the greenhouse [5] [6]. After making certain Wang was dead, Zhang and Li together buried the body in the pre-prepared bottom [5].
After the crime, the perpetrators shared the stolen money. Zhang removed the SIM card from the victim's phone, ordered Ma to destruct it, and the telephone itself handed Li to throw out [5].
Investigation and arrest: erstwhile Wang didn't come home, his household began searching and reported him missing. Initially, the perpetrators denied seeing Wang. However, after the victim's father discovered records of bank transfers on his son's WeChat account and police analyzed the surveillance footage, the perpetrators were re-interviewed [3] [4].
On March 11, 1 of the perpetrators (Ma) confessed and indicated where the body was hidden. The body was found buried in a shallow pit in an abandoned greenhouse just about 100 metres from the home of 1 of the perpetrators [4] [6].
Legal context and finality of the case
The Handan case has become a breakthrough for the Chinese legal system. In 2021, China amended the penal code (Amendment XI), reducing the age of criminal work from 14 to 12 years in circumstantial cases. Under the fresh law, persons between 12 and 14 years of age may be tried for intentional execution or intentional fatal injury if the circumstances are exceptionally cruel and the ultimate People's Prosecutor's Office (SPP) agrees [1] [2].
In April 2024, the ultimate People's Prosecutor's Office officially approved the prosecution of 3 13-year-olds, recognising that the crime was planned and its circumstances were highly violent [1] [6].
Judgment: On 30 December 2024, the Handan People's Intermediate Court delivered judgments in this noisy case [5] [6]:
| Perpetrator | Role | Judgment |
| Zhang | Main initiator and contractor (major perpetrator). | Life imprisonment and the permanent deprivation of public rights. |
| Li | Active accomplice (principal perpetrator, but little guilty than Zhang). | 12 years imprisonment. |
| It does. | The witness, present on the scene, participated in the demolition of evidence (recognized as a individual who was not active in planning and did not strike). | No criminal penalties. Focused on specialist correctional education (retirement centre). |
Under Chinese law, minors cannot be sentenced to death, which is why a life conviction for Zhang was the highest possible punishment in this case. [6]. no of the defendants filed an appeal, which means that the sentences became final [7].
Meaning of the case
The Handan execution case echoed widely throughout China, generating hundreds of millions of views and discussions on social media [4]. She was considered 1 of the “10 most crucial cases of 2025” (2025年度十大案件) by the Chinese “Journal of People's Courts” (Renmin Fayuan Bao), as a precedent example of the application of reduced age of criminal work [8]. This issue not only tested the fresh legislation, but besides highlighted the deep social problems facing agrarian communities in China, including the deficiency of childcare for migrant workers and the increasing problem of peer violence.
Sources
[1] BBC News, China: 3 teenagers revealed in Handan over classmate’s death, 20 March 2024,
[2] Reuters, China hands lengthy jail terms to 2 teachers for murdering classmate, December 30, 2024,
[3] The Guardian, Killing of teacher in China sparks debate about ‘left behind’ children, 19 March 2024,
[4] CNN, Grisly teen execution case shocks China and shines a light on ‘left behind’ children, 20 March 2024,
[5] BBC News, Chinese teen sentenced to life in prison for classmate’s death, December 30, 2024,
[6] Wikipedia (Chinese), 邯郸初中生杀人案(The execution of a gymnasian in Handan),
[7] Academic Jobs, Handan execution Case: suspect No Appeal | China News,
[8] Court.gov.cn, 2025年度人民法院报十大案件 (10 most crucial matters of the People's Court diary in 2025),
Leszek B. Glass
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