In July 2016, the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court convicted Xin Long of intentional homicide, sentencing him to death with a two-year reprieve and ordering him to pay 31,416 yuan in compensation to the plaintiff in the attached civil lawsuit. The defendant appealed.
In December 2016, the appellate court overturned the original verdict and remanded the case for retrial.
In 2018, the retrial court acquitted Xin Long, citing insufficient and inconclusive evidence. The court found that the case facts established by the evidence failed to eliminate reasonable doubt. The procuratorate’s appeal against the acquittal was dismissed.
In 2021, Xin Long received 335,800 yuan in state compensation following his acquittal in the retrial.
In June 2022, the Supreme People’s Court ordered a new retrial.
In December 2022, the retrial court overturned the appellate court’s judgment and issued a decision consistent with the original first-instance judgment, sentencing Xin Long to death with a two-year reprieve for intentional homicide and ordering compensation of 31,416 yuan for economic losses to the plaintiff. Both parties appealed.
In March 2023, the final appellate court dismissed the appeals, upheld the original judgment, and approved the death sentence with a two-year reprieve for intentional homicide.