Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang executed by firing squad after murdering underage girlfriend
According to a recently released court document from the Intermediate People's Court of Xianyang City in Shaanxi province, Zhang lured the victim – who was 15 when they started dating – into a forest in Xingping city on Feb 26, 2022.
When she expressed her intention to end the relationship, a heated argument broke out, during which Zhang fatally stabbed her in the neck.
Following the attack, Zhang returned home to change his clothes and disposed of both the bloodied garments and the victim's mobile phone by throwing them into a river.
He then checked into a hotel, where he attempted to take his own life but was discovered by a staff member who alerted the police.
The court described Zhang's actions as extremely violent and socially harmful.
His pattern of emotional manipulation, including repeated threats of suicide to control the victim, further influenced the court's decision to uphold his death sentence after a failed appeal.
The case sent shockwaves across mainland China. It marks the first time a celebrity in the country was legally executed for a criminal offense.
In the wake of the news, netizens slammed the posthumous release of Zhang's film Jie You Yin Sheng Guan, which premiered in March this year.
Users on Douban (a Chinese online database for film, books, music and more), also bombarded the film's page with one-star ratings, condemning its release given that its lead actor had been executed for the murder of an underage girl.
Those suffering from mental health issues or contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's Family, Social and Community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929, visit www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers and operating hours, or email sam@befrienders.org.my.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Tibetan singer detained by China for Dalai Lama tribute song
DHARAMSALA: A Tibetan singer and activist has been detained by Chinese authorities, according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The India-based exile government reported that Tzukte, known as Asang, was arrested in early July after performing a song honouring the Dalai Lama. The CTA, which operates as a government-in-exile without international recognition, condemned the arrest as part of China's 'broader campaign to suppress Tibetan voices, especially artists and writers.' China maintains strict control over Tibet, which it considers an inseparable part of its territory. Asang, a student of the well-known Tibetan singer Gebe, had previously drawn attention for publicly displaying the word 'Tibet' on his forehead in Sichuan province. The act gained online support but also increased official scrutiny. 'His detention, without charge or information on his whereabouts, violates international human rights norms and underscores China's ongoing assault on freedom of expression, cultural rights, and religious belief in Tibet,' the CTA stated. Chinese authorities have not commented on the arrest. Rights groups have long criticised Beijing's policies in Tibet, accusing it of erasing cultural and religious identity. – AFP
Focus Malaysia
10 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Purchase a Vietnam bride for $10,000, but don't forget your $2,000 deposit
WHAT can be more horrifying than the most horrific horror movie? A normal human relationship of course. The fear of rejection. Rejection. Abusive relationships. You name it. That is why people have resorted to 'purchasing' relationships, aka Vietnam Brides. This isn't new but a recent viral video on Vietnam Brides in Singapore has brought the topic back into the limelight. According to Mark Lin who runs the bridal agency, a client is charged $10,000 for a bride, and a $2,000 deposit is required. Some of the 'brides' were introduced in the video, their age ranging from 19 to 22. Authentic brides or legalised prostitution? You decide. Hahaha bukan setakat labour diorang beli dari luar, bini pon kena import dari luar. It looks borderline unlawful matchmaking barely legal brides though. — Dibs (@adibhazlami) July 25, 2025 However, netizens were sceptical about this concept of purchasing a relationship instead of forming one. We are not surprised. Netizen @kingtawa23 said he knew an uncle selling Tau Foo Fah who once purchased a Vietnam bride. Apparently she ran away and he felt that it was just a waste of money. Another netizen claimed this was human trafficking. @army4769 added that this was a growing trend as the local Chinese girls have a lot of demand. 'In the area of my condominium, I can say that the majority of Chinese guys there marry Vietnamese and Thais. At first I thought they were mistresses but they were actually wives,' he said. Nerizen @fa_fart echoes his words, stating that Chinese guys are more likely to marry Vietnamese as Chinese girls are expensive. 'It is cheap to marry Malays but they have to convert,' he said. 'Mail-order bride is the word,' said @Solo_Level_27 succinctly. So is happily ever after just $10,000 away for the average male? Who knows. On another note, what drives these girls to become Vietnam brides? According to the website Girls Not Brides, child marriage in Vietnam continues to be influenced by deep-rooted gender inequality, where girls are often seen as less valuable than boys. Economic hardship further worsens the situation, especially among Vietnam's poorest communities. Statistics show that nearly 39% of girls from low-income households marry before turning 18, compared to just 1.4% among the wealthiest. For many families facing financial struggles, marrying off daughters is viewed as a means of economic survival. The risk is even higher for girls from ethnic minority groups, who tend to experience higher poverty levels. Education also plays a critical role. Two-thirds of women with no formal education were married before 18, in contrast to only 14.5% of those who completed upper secondary school. Cultural traditions further contribute to the issue. Arranged marriages are still widely practiced in Vietnam, with decisions often made by parents and community leaders. In some areas, customary laws continue to legitimise the marriage of underage girls with parental consent. Although prohibited by law, the practice of hai pu, or bride kidnapping, remains common among Hmong communities. In these cases, girls are forcibly taken from their homes and married without their consent. Additionally, social expectations and the fear of being labelled a 'leftover girl' create further pressure for girls to marry at a young age. —July 27, 2025 Main image: @adibhazlami
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Let it stylishly hang loose: Untucked shirts are all the rage right now
Somewhat unkempt, yet considered, this short-sleeve shirt is tucked in at the front, but hanging out slightly at the back. Photo: Instagram/Prada If fashion would have it, every day would be a dress-down Friday. Shirts are hanging out and proud, and we're not just talking polos, but crisp office shirts and even formal tuxedo ones. It's a deliberate departure from stiff, formal traditions, allowing shirttails fly free as a kind of modern nonchalance. It's fashion's way of saying, 'I'm not obsessed with fashion, but I am effortlessly aware.' It's a calculatedly casual way to look hip, cool and unbothered. This undone, off-duty trend carries an undercurrent of rebellion, which accords the wearer a certain rakishness. While this style may be relaxed, it does take some thought. The shirt has to be the right length, the fabric intentional, and the rest of the outfit, whether tailored trousers or casual denim, needs to balance the ease. Read more: Why toes are taking over: Fashion's growing obsession with feet-first style It's a look that requires a sense of fashion, perhaps a little swagger too, or you might end up looking sloppy than stylish. This Japanese label gives the trend a modern spin with a simple half-tuck that makes the undone look feel sharply styled. Photo: Instagram/Sacai The style can be seen in the Spring/Summer 2026 Louis Vuitton menswear collection where a traditionally formal pairing comprising beige trousers and white shirt complete with necktie is layered with a buttoned-up pink sweater. At first glance, nothing appears out of the ordinary. But the white shirt is worn untucked, its hem peeking out beneath the sweater, lending the outfit a quietly rebellious edge. Over at the much-awaited Spring/Summer 2026 Dior menswear collection, new Dior designer, Jonathan Anderson, champions a similarly untucked spirit. A light blue and white pinstripe shirt is not only left untucked, but its cuffs are left undone. Even the necktie is rendered inside out, which is a deliberate design quirk rather than a wardrobe blunder. Tailored, with a fun and casual twist! Japanese label Sacai's take on the trend is half-tucked, and we're here for it. A pair of black, baggy trousers is styled with a white shirt that is tucked in on one side, left to hang loose on the other. Read more: Slim, sequinned, silky: Scarves and neckerchiefs steal the fashion spotlight Turning up the drama is Kenzo, where an evening suit, coat and all, gets a cheeky remix where a white tuxedo shirt is tucked out, and the bow tie? Untied, of course. Call it bold or playful, it's a fresh take on evening wear. Chinese actor Deng Wei joins in with a brown Moschino suit, his crisp white shirt left untucked for just the right touch of ease. Then there's Prada, its striped short-sleeve shirt that is tucked in at the front, but hanging out slightly at the back. A little undone, but in a cool way. Dashing but not too neat. Now that's what you call a tuck with attitude.
