On November 24, 2009, Wang Xudong broke the glass of the prison van during escort and attempted to slit his throat to commit suicide. A woman persuaded him to stop. (File Photo)
■ News Recap
On November 24, 2009, on Songjiang Central Road in Jilin City, a severely sentenced prisoner broke the glass of the prison van during escort and attempted to slit his throat to commit suicide. The judicial police guarding him managed to subdue him after 10 minutes of persuasion and forceful action. The prisoner was being escorted from the Jilin Provincial Higher People's Court to the Jilin City Intermediate People's Court for trial.
Our report (by reporter Shi Zhou): In 2007, Wang Xudong's sensational case of being hired by a friend to commit murder with a gun shocked Jilin City. It became one of the most significant criminal cases in recent years in Jilin City. Recently, after the final review by the Jilin Provincial Higher People's Court, the defendant Wang Xudong was found guilty of intentional homicide, theft, illegal trading of firearms, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life, and fined RMB 500,000.
Car Theft Career
Collaboration in a Complete Theft and Sale Operation
Wang Xudong conspired with others in three intentional homicide cases, resulting in two deaths, with another case being unsuccessful. All these incidents were related to his previous career in theft.
Wang Xudong, 45 years old this year, is from Jilin City. He attended junior high school and worked there, also operating as an individual business owner before becoming unemployed in 1997.
At around 2:00 AM on December 26, 1999, he sneaked into Shangyi Residential Area on Beida Street in the Chuanying District of Jilin City. He broke the window glass of garage No. 1, entered it, and shattered the door glass of a white Jetta car inside. He tried to steal the car but failed to start it, so he called Zhao Zhi for help. After Zhao arrived, they dragged the car away. Zhao sold the Jetta car worth RMB 100,000, and the proceeds were split equally between them.
Thereafter, theft almost became Wang Xudong's means of livelihood. Wang stole cars while Zhao handled the sales. According to court confirmation, from 1999 to 2007, Wang Xudong committed 21 thefts alone or in collaboration with others, stealing property totaling RMB 3.149 million.
First Shot
Conspiracy to Murder a "Colleague"
In addition to helping Wang Xudong sell stolen goods, Zhao Zhi also assisted another car thief named Zhao Tiedan in selling stolen vehicles. In 2000, Zhao Tiedan repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Zhao Zhi helping Wang Xudong sell stolen cars. He worried that Wang Xudong would compete with him for business and that Zhao Zhi and Wang Xudong might inform the police about his car theft activities.
The conflict between Zhao Zhi and Zhao Tiedan escalated, and Zhao Tiedan openly expressed hatred toward Zhao Zhi. Knowing that Zhao Tiedan had a gun, Zhao Zhi feared being killed by him. Thus, he approached Wang Xudong, stating that Zhao Tiedan knew too much and needed to be eliminated.
Zhao Zhi purchased a Dongfeng Type III caliber pistol from Zhang Jingrui, an employee at the Jilin Provincial Tobacco Company.
Around 11 PM on May 18, 2001, Zhao Zhi lured Zhao Tiedan to his garage. Wang Xudong fired two shots from the pistol at Zhao Tiedan’s face and chest, killing him on the spot. They then stole a gold necklace worth RMB 13,000 and RMB 29,000 in cash. The next day, they buried the body on a hillside beside the Jiqing Highway in Yaoling Village, Fengman District of Jilin City.
On September 28, 2004, Zhao Zhi was sentenced to three years in prison for purchasing and selling stolen goods.
Second Shot
Killing a Taxi Driver Over Fare Dispute
On the evening of August 26, 2005, Wang Xudong rented a taxi driven by Xia Chunxiao. A dispute over the fare ensued, leaving Wang harboring resentment.
Wang Xudong learned that Xia Chunxiao usually waited for passengers around Qingdao Street in Jilin City. On the evening of August 28, 2005, Wang lay in wait there. When Xia drove by, Wang got back into his taxi, deceiving him to drive to the nearby Huaqiao Cheng residential area in the Hi-Tech Zone. After stopping, Wang Xudong shot Xia twice in the head and face, causing his immediate death. The same pistol used to kill Zhao Tiedan was employed here.
Preventing Exposure
Modifying Gun Components
On September 9, 2005, Zhao Zhi was granted parole. Hearing that a taxi driver had been shot dead in the Hi-Tech Zone, his first thought was that Wang Xudong was responsible. One day in 2006, he questioned Wang Xudong, who admitted to the crime.
In the summer of 2006, Wang Xudong brought the Dongfeng Type III caliber pistol used to kill Zhao Tiedan and Xia Chunxiao to Zhao Zhi's house, asking him to modify the firing pin and extractor with a file to prevent the police from linking the gun to the two cases if discovered in the future.
Third Shot
Hired by a Friend, Attempted Murder Due to Gun Malfunction
A car sold by Zhao Zhi to Yi Qingchun was seized by the police. Yi demanded RMB 100,000 in compensation from Zhao Zhi and even sent people to beat him. Previously, Zhao Zhi had been imprisoned due to Yi Qingchun's reporting, which caused him financial losses and led to his divorce. He developed the intention to kill Yi Qingchun for revenge.
According to Zhao Zhi's confession, he approached Wang Xudong, promising him a car, half of the earnings, and lifelong support for himself, his parents, and his children through Sina Blog Space. Wang Xudong confessed that Zhao Zhi asked him to help take revenge, preferably by killing or crippling Yi Qingchun, offering him a car and RMB 100,000 afterward. He agreed.
Zhao Zhi handed over a Honda car, a Dongfeng Type III pistol, and bullets to Wang Xudong. Wang frequently loitered near Yi Qingchun's home looking for an opportunity.
At around 7 PM on September 10, 2007, Wang Xudong fired a shot at Yi Qingchun's back in the Donglin Garden residential area where Yi lived. However, due to a gun malfunction, the murder attempt was unsuccessful. The two engaged in a physical struggle, and Wang Xudong was injured in the eye by Yi Qingchun, abandoning the gun and fleeing. Zhao Zhi accompanied him to the hospital for treatment and then fled Jilin City.
Other Matters
Illegally Held Firearms Have Been Confiscated
Since 1998, Zhao Zhi illegally possessed a JW-20 semi-automatic rifle with serial number 610487, two small caliber sports guns with serial numbers 63018 and 62937, and a single-barrel shotgun with serial number 50541.
Later, Zhao Zhi gave the small caliber sports gun with serial number 62937 and the single-barrel shotgun with serial number 50541 to Wang Xudong. Additionally, Wang Xudong illegally held 61 rifle rounds.
All the above firearms and ammunition were confiscated by the police after the incident.
Trial
On September 26, 2007, Wang Xudong and Zhao Zhi were criminally detained on suspicion of intentional homicide and were arrested on October 31 of the same year.
The Jilin City People's Procuratorate filed a public prosecution on September 3, 2008, and the Jilin City Intermediate People's Court made a first-instance judgment on December 15, 2008.
Defendant Wang Xudong was found guilty of intentional homicide, theft, illegal trading of firearms, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. After multiple crimes were combined, the court decided to execute the death penalty and impose a fine of RMB 500,000.
Defendant Zhao Zhi was found guilty of intentional homicide, theft, illegal trading of firearms, illegal possession of firearms, and concealing the proceeds of crime. The revocation of Zhao Zhi's parole was ordered, and after combining multiple crimes with the remaining sentence, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined RMB 520,000.
Defendant Zhang Jingrui was found guilty of illegal trading of firearms and concealing the proceeds of crime. After multiple crimes were combined, he was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, deprived of political rights for two years, and fined RMB 10,000.
After the first-instance verdict was announced, Wang Xudong appealed. On December 22, 2009, the Jilin Provincial Higher People's Court upheld the original verdict after the final review. The ruling on the appellant (original defendant) Wang Xudong was legally submitted to the Supreme People's Court for approval.