China: 14-year-old sentenced to life for rape and murder of classmate

A China court sentenced a 14-year boy to life imprisonment for rape and murder of his 15-year-old classmate, a case that became a significant mark in juvenile crime.The Qujing Intermediate People’s Court announced its verdict, convicting and sentencing the defendant, who attempted to rape his classmate.According to the court, the incident occurred between the night of July 6 and the early hours of July 7, 2025, when the teenage boy allegedly used violence in an attempt to sexually assault the female victim, reported China Daily.According to the court, the boy killed the victim by strangulation in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime. He was 14 at the time of the incident.The court ruled that his actions amounted to both rape and intentional homicide, describing the case as “extremely serious” due to the nature of the crime and its fatal outcome.While noting that the offences warranted the harshest punishment, judges said Chinese law prohibits the death penalty for offenders who were under 18 at the time. The 14-year old was therefore sentenced to life imprisonment.The hearing was attended by the victim’s family, along with national lawmakers, political advisers and members of the media.