Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang (33) has been executed after being found guilty of murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend in a shocking crime that stunned the nation. Zhang, once known for his roles in various TV and web dramas, was put to death by firing squad on December 18 last year.
The Xianyang Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi confirmed the execution after Zhang’s appeal was rejected and the death sentence upheld.
The murder took place on February 26, 2022, when Zhang lured the girl, identified only by her surname Zhang, to a remote forest in Xingping City, claiming they would celebrate his birthday. During their meeting, the teen expressed her wish to end the relationship, which led to a violent argument.
In a sudden fit of rage, Zhang Yiyang stabbed her multiple times in the neck with a folding knife, cutting her carotid artery and windpipe. She died from mechanical asphyxiation caused by the injuries.
After the killing, Zhang tried to stage the scene to make it look like a suicide, then attempted to take his own life. However, he failed and was soon arrested by local police.
Zhang was later convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced to death. His execution has become one of the most high-profile cases in recent years involving a celebrity and highlights China’s strict laws against violent crime, regardless of social status.
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang (33) has been executed after being found guilty of murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend in a shocking crime that stunned the nation. Zhang, once known for his roles in various TV and web dramas, was put to death by firing squad on December 18 last year.
The Xianyang Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi confirmed the execution after Zhang’s appeal was rejected and the death sentence upheld.
The murder took place on February 26, 2022, when Zhang lured the girl, identified only by her surname Zhang, to a remote forest in Xingping City, claiming they would celebrate his birthday. During their meeting, the teen expressed her wish to end the relationship, which led to a violent argument.
In a sudden fit of rage, Zhang Yiyang stabbed her multiple times in the neck with a folding knife, cutting her carotid artery and windpipe. She died from mechanical asphyxiation caused by the injuries.
After the killing, Zhang tried to stage the scene to make it look like a suicide, then attempted to take his own life. However, he failed and was soon arrested by local police.
Zhang was later convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced to death. His execution has become one of the most high-profile cases in recent years involving a celebrity and highlights China’s strict laws against violent crime, regardless of social status.
