BEIJING – A Chinese court has sentenced four municipal security officers to prison for a clash that left a watermelon seller dead and triggered a public outcry.
The court in Yongxing county in central China said on its website that the four officers were convicted of intentional injury and sentenced Friday to prison terms ranging from 3 ½ to 11 years.
The officials were enforcing an urban code and tried to prevent Deng and his wife from selling fruit in a place they were not allowed to. Deng died in the fight.
His death became the latest flash point of public anger against urban management officers who are notorious for corruption and violence against small businesses and the poor.