Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang was executed by firing squad for the murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend. This is the first execution of a celebrity in China, where the death penalty is applied.
According to a recent notice from the Xianyang Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi Province, China, Zhang Yiyang was sentenced to death on December 18 of last year and executed immediately.
On February 26, 2022, Zhang Yiyang stabbed his then-16-year-old girlfriend multiple times with a weapon after she informed him of their breakup, causing her death from severe bleeding and asphyxiation.
According to investigation records, Zhang Yiyang, who was 30 at the time, began dating the victim in September 2021 and continued to control her through emotional control (PUA), including threats of self-harm and suicide. When the victim attempted to end her relationship with Zhang Yiyang, he lured her into the forest under the pretext of “celebrating her birthday” and committed his crime.
Immediately after the crime, Zhang Yiyang returned home, washed or disposed of his clothes and weapons, and attempted suicide in a hotel, but was arrested after a staff member reported him.
Korean netizens commented:
- “Stop commuting punishments and offering clemency for every reason, and learn from such things instead.”
- “He was even dating a minor, he’s a crazy person ㅡㅡ”
- “It’s a good thing he got the death penalty because it was a crime against a minor, and it wasn’t even a healthy relationship.”
- “The content of this news is inaccurate.The death sentence was carried out after the appeal (the second stage of the trial), not after the initial verdict.The conclusive evidence was a photograph taken after the crime was committed, so there was no room for denial.[The sentence was not carried out after the first stage of the trial].”
However, according to some sources, the death sentence was imposed after an appeal.
“In February 2022, he killed his 16-year-old girlfriend. He applied to postpone the initial trial eight times, citing mental illness and physical pain.
The sentence was issued in December (the initial court), and then the death sentence was carried out in December 2024 (because he kept postponing the trial, claiming illness).
This report is inaccurate. China’s judicial system has two levels, and his appeal was rejected at the second stage, which is why the sentence was carried out.”
