Liu Hanhuang, a 26 year-old migrant worker from Guizhou who dropped out of school after graduating primary school was on 2 November sentenced to death (suspended for two years) and ordered to pay more than 1.2 million yuan in compensation for murdering two managers, and severely injuring a third, at a Dongguan factory in June.
After hearing the sentence, Liu told the Dongguan Intermediate People’s Court, “this is excessive, I will appeal” (判得过重, 我要上诉).
On 15 June 2009, Liu stabbed to death two senior managers and seriously injured a third at a Taiwanese hardware manufacturer in Dongguan during an argument over work-related injury compensation.
Liu had lost his right hand in a work accident in September 2008. He was certified as having a Grade Five disability and the local labour dispute arbitration committee awarded him around 58,000 yuan in compensation.
The Dongguan municipal court, in May 2009, increased the award and ordered the company, Zhanming Hardware Co, to pay Liu about 168,000 yuan in compensation. Neither party agreed with the ruling, Zhanming would only pay 90,000 yuan, while Liu sought 310,000 yuan. The parties remained at loggerheads, with the company refusing to compromise.
In June, a week before the incident, in what may have been the final straw, managers told Liu to leave his dormitory room in the factory complex, effectively making him homeless. Liu protested by threatening to jump from the top of the dormitory building. On the 15th, as Liu was attempting to meet with his lawyer, he was confronted by his bosses. He drew a knife, and on this occasion the dispute escalated into a fatal and tragic incident.