BEIJING: The family of a reporter killed while investigating China's corrupt coal industry says the life sentence given to the mine boss who ordered thugs to attack the journalist is too lenient, and appealed Monday for the death penalty.
The beating death of Lan Chengzhang was the highest-profile case of violence against journalists in recent years, and highlighted the lawlessness at the country's dangerous and poorly regulated coal mines, where an average of 13 miners die every day.
In the appeal papers filed to the top provincial and national prosecutors offices Monday, lawyer Xu Zhanqin sought the death penalty for Hou Zhenrun, the head of a small unlicensed mine outside the northern city of Datong.
Xu maintained the life sentence Hou received on Friday for the January beating death was light compared to similar cases.
Unconfirmed reports said Lan, a newly hired reporter for the Beijing-based China Trade News, may have been trying to collect money from Hou in return for not writing about his business.However, Xu said Monday that the court ruling found Lan was not involved in extortion. Neither the lawyer nor the court would provide the Associated Press a copy of the judgment to confirm that.
The lawyer also sought the death penalty for the five men sentenced to jail terms of five to 15 years for beating Lan.
