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| Ding Cuimei lies in a pit, where she suffocated after being buried alive. (Photo: ChinaAid) |
ChinaAid
(Zhumadian, Henan—Nov. 14, 2018) Two years ago, a Christian woman was murdered when a bulldozer buried her alive. Now, the perpetrators have been sentenced, and the woman’s husband believes their penalties are too light.
On April 14, 2016, Ding Cuimei and her spouse, Li Jiangong, stepped in front of a bulldozer hired to demolish the wall of their church. As it is situated next to the freeway, people considered it prime real estate and wished to build shops on the property. Because of this, they wanted to force the church off the land, and demolition workers recruited a group of people of ill reputation to carry out the destruction.
When Ding and Li intervened, an unnamed leader of the group yelled to the bulldozer’s driver, “Bury them alive. If someone dies, I will be responsible.”
Ding and Li were then pushed into a pit, and the bulldozer poured soil over them. A few minutes later, Li dug his way to freedom and shouted for help. Unfortunately, he was not able to locate his wife in time, and she suffocated.
Police later arrested two members of the crew in association with the crime, but the person who ordered the murder is still at large.
When ChinaAid reported Ding’s death, the story gained widespread international attention. With the eyes of the world watching, the government ruled that the church may keep the land. Li says the church is now doing well, and the number of attendees has even increased.
Late last year, both prisoners received verdicts, with one slated to serve the rest of his life in prison on the charge of “intentional killing,” and the other was sentenced to two years for “negligent homicide.”
Believing that the sentences were lenient, Li consulted with a lawyer on whether or not he should appeal, but the attorney did not believe they would find favor in court. Li said, “Each day, my frame of mind is not good. Losing someone is a blow to my mood. This verdict is not the one we anticipated.”
ChinaAid exposes abuses, such as those suffered by Ding and Li, in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law.
ChinaAid Media Team
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