Originally Posted by
Jamoldo
About sons of generals, I think you're being naive since this guy was pretty high up. I don't have anything to counter with it since I don't know (and don't think there are any precedents) but I am sure it would depend on the foreigner's status in society and perhaps in his/her own country as well as the reaction of the public (maybe internet pressure on the message boards if netizens cared, or if it was allowed) and the status of said general.
Here's a somewhat on point case involving a young Canadian model that
was murdered in Shanghai 3 years ago. It was speculated that the
actual assailant was from a rich family and a migrant worker took the wrap.
B.C. model's killer sentenced to die in China
Updated Fri. Mar. 13 2009 10:12 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Chinese court sentenced a 19-year-old man to death Friday for murdering a Canadian model in Shanghai last year.
Diana O'Brien, a 22-year-old model from Salt Spring Island, B.C., was found stabbed to death last July on the staircase of the apartment building where she was staying.
In November, Chen Jun pleaded guilty to murdering O'Brien after trying to rob her.
In a written ruling Friday, Shanghai's Intermediary Court did not order Jun to be immediately executed. Instead, the court offered Chen a two-year probationary reprieve.
"He has two years to show good behaviour and if he proves this his sentence could be lowered to a life sentence to be served in jail or even lighter depending on his performance," CTV's Beijing Bureau Chief Steve Chao reported Friday.
Since punishments in China are often measured by social impact, Chen was expected to receive a harsher sentence because he murdered a foreigner and it happened right before the Olympics.
"In both cases it had the potential to embarrass China's government so many people expected a harsher sentence -- an immediate execution," Chao said.
Updated Tue. Nov. 18 2008 6:17 AM ET