Qiu Xinghua

Case record

Identification

Qiu Xinghua (邱兴华) was executed by shot in the head on December 28, 2006.

Timeline

• July 14, 2006 — Qiu Xinghua returned to the temple and killed all 10 people there in the middle of the night with an axe.
• July 15, 2006 — Qiu Xinghua burnt the temple to the ground and escaped.
• July 16, 2006 — A first police officer arrived at the Iron Tile Temple.
• July 26, 2006 — The Ministry of Public Security issued a Category A warrant for Qiu Xinghua and offered 50,000 RMB; the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department and the Ministry of Public Security issued a class A arrest warrant and offered a reward of 50,000 yuan.
• August 2, 2006 — A local villager reported seeing Qiu Xinghua hiding in the forest near the village, and the Ankang police discovered hiding spots and abandoned belongings during a search.
• August 5, 2006 — The reward was increased to 100,000 yuan.
• August 9, 2006 — The beard-covered Qiu Xinghua appeared at Yixin village, visited his parents-in-law and neighbors, and cleared weeds on his parents’ graves.
• August 11, 2006 — The search command center decided: 100,000 RMB for anyone capturing Qiu Xinghua alive; 50,000 RMB for anyone providing useful information.
• August 19, 2006 — Qiu Xinghua was arrested after police guarded his home; he was also said to have arrived home past 8pm.
• September 9 — Wei died of serious injury after being injured on July 31.
• October 2006 — Qiu Xinghua was sentenced to death at Ankang Intermediate People's Court in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
• 29 December 2006 — The Mirror ran a full-page story reporting how people were informed of the execution situation.

The offence

Qiu Xinghua was alleged to have murdered 10 people at a temple. The victims were temple workers and local farmers.

The victims were nine males and one female, aged between 12 and 62. The murders were alleged to have happened in a temple at the top of a mountain near Qiu's hometown.

Qiu Xinghua was alleged to have been at the local Tiewadian Temple on two occasions between June 18 and July 2, and he argued with Song Daocheng, a temple manager, who stopped him from moving two objects. Qiu thought Xiong Wancheng, the chief of the temple, took liberties with his wife during their stay at the temple, and he made a plan to kill the people there and destroy the temple.

On the night of July 15, Qiu burnt the temple to the ground and escaped.

After the temple killings, Qiu injured a farmer named Wei Yikai and his wife Xu Kaixiu and daughter Wei Jinmei in Suizhou, Hubei, near his home town, and Wei died of serious injury on September 9. Qiu also stole 1,302 yuan from Wei.

Qiu Xinghua also killed another person and injured two more after the temple killings.

Investigation

A team led by Wang Rui, director of the department, was sent by the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security to the site for an investigation.

The Shaanxi Provincial Public Security sent a team led by Wang Rui to the site. After two days, the police believed Qiu was a suspect but discovered he had escaped.

After Qiu's suspected identification, Ankang city police gathered several hundred police officers to conduct large-scale searches in the local area.

More than 200 police officers searched the mountains with dense forests and deep valleys.

The hunt did not stop despite intense heat, until Qiu was arrested by four policemen waiting in his rented house in Foping County.

Arrest

Qiu Xinghua was arrested after being captured by Shaanxi police at a house he rented in Foping, Shaanxi Province.

Four policemen arrested Qiu. Xiong Hanbin, one of the policemen who arrested the suspect, said that they heard a knock at the door when they were hiding in the house at about 8:20pm on Saturday evening and found the man outside was Qiu; they caught him and found a knife on him.

On the night of August 19, Qiu Xinghua sneaked back to his home in Wusi village, Daheba town, Fuping county, and he was arrested by four police officers stationed there for 22 days.

According to the account of August 19, it was past 8pm when Qiu Xinghua arrived home, entered the house and turned off the light; He Ranfeng was chopping greenfeed for pigs, and the eldest daughter Yingying checked. Four police men guarding the house rushed out and surrounded Qiu Xinghua; after Yingying came out and said “Daddy,” they tackled him; neighbors could hear the whole family wailing.

Qiu Xinghua’s arrest was described as being on August 19, 35 days after the temple killings.

Trial

Qiu Xinghua was prosecuted on charges of intentional murder and robbery. Prosecutors indicted him on charges of intentional murder and robbery.

A collegiate bench found that the facts were clear and there was ample evidence.

With a large number of witnesses and physical evidence, Qiu confessed to the crimes.

Zhang Yong, Qiu's lawyer, said that although his client was charged with 11 deaths, all people had the right to appeal. Zhang said he met with Qiu twice before the trial, found that his mind was very clear, and that Qiu wrote a defence of his own. Zhang said the evidence provided by local procurators was very clear.

A court source said that no relatives of Qiu or the victims attended the trial. Qin Kangjian, director of Ankang Public Security Bureau, said that they arranged for Qiu to meet with his son Qiu Donghai on Wednesday; he told his son to study hard and be a good man.

Qiu Donghai said his father looked healthy and was writing his life story; he described that he had written dozens of pages, describing his poor life and various tough experiences.

Qiu also said he would appeal after hearing the verdict. Qiu said:

"I am so sorry for the victims and their relatives. I really regret it and hope society will not discriminate against my family."

Sentencing

Qiu Xinghua was sentenced to death by Ankang Intermediate People's Court.

Qiu Xinghua’s personal property confiscated as compensation for the relatives of the victims included 5,000 yuan.

Appeals

Qiu Xinghua said he would appeal after hearing the verdict.

Outcome

The Shaanxi Higher People's Court refused to order a psychiatric test, even though some experts argued that his behavior and family history pointed to mental illness. Under the mainland legal system, only the police, prosecutors and judges had the power to initiate a test.

Qiu Xinghua was executed in public.

Qiu Xinghua was executed on December 28, 2006.

The Mirror ran a full-page story on 29 December reporting on how various people were informed of the execution situation. It said Qiu’s wife got information from reporters, and that both the court and Qiu’s lawyer denied responsibility for informing family members of the execution time. Chinese law allowed the court to permit family members to visit the condemned, but it said the court had no compunction to do so. The Shaanxi court where Qiu was tried said an emotional final visit could cause unexpected problems, and distraught family members could pose a threat to the safety of the execution procedure. The article quoted another lawyer who recommended adding family notification and visitation rights to the law.

Qiu Xinghua wrote his memoirs while in prison. According to his lawyer, this was intended to be a “negative example” to readers, and Qiu was worried that if he were found to be not guilty by reason of insanity, sales would suffer. Publishing his story would be controversial, and it was stated that the issue would not come up. The Mirror noted that Qiu’s conviction stripped him of political rights, including rights to vote, hold office, serve in government, occupy a leadership position in a state-owned enterprise, and rights to freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, procession, and demonstration. It also stated that since his right to freedom of the press was revoked, his autobiography could not be published, even posthumously. Another right he did not have was the “right to a final goodbye” (临终告别权).

Other details

Participants and named individuals

• He Ranfeng — Qiu Xinghua’s wife.
• Song Daocheng — a temple manager.
• Xiong Wancheng — the chief of the temple; the Iron Tile Temple director.
• Wei Yikai — a farmer injured on July 31 and who died of serious injury on September 9.
• Xu Kaixiu — Wei Yikai’s wife injured on July 31.
• Wei Jinmei — Wei Yikai’s daughter injured on July 31.
• Qiu Xingfu — Qiu Xinghua’s elder brother.
• Qiu Donghai — Qiu Xinghua’s son.
• Li Tianle — a spokesman for the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department.
• Wang Rui — director of the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department.
• Li Decai — public procurator of the People’s Procuratorate who read parts of the indictment.
• Zhao Xiaoxu — presiding judge and vice-president of the court.
• Zhang Yong — Qiu Xinghua’s lawyer.
• Qin Kangjian — director of Ankang Public Security Bureau.
• Xiong Hanbin — one of the four policemen who arrested the suspect.
• Ruan Shiqiang — a villager who found Qiu Xinghua strange and questioned the rocks/crabs in the washing basin.
• He Rangao — a villager who saw Qiu Xinghua’s chest injury and denied being a fortune-teller.
• He Ranfu — related to the He family; involved in the background account.
• He Rangao and He Ranfu — were described as part of four people sent to find the couple and bring them back.
• Deng Guofeng — teacher; Qiu had borrowed money from her.
• Deng Guofeng’s husband — was reading the day’s newspaper during the interview.
• Yingying — eldest daughter who checked on the evening of August 19.
• Xiong Wancheng — included among the victims.
• Hanyin county detention center — mentioned in the background of prior detentions.
• Ankang city police — gathered several hundred officers for large-scale searches.
• Special case squad — mobilized the masses to join a search.
• Deng Guofeng — remembered for a notebook and pencil and a 300 RMB loan.

Background and family history

Qiu Xinghua was described as a 47-year-old farmer from Yixincun Village in Shiquan County.

It was stated that the case attracted huge public attention, including that Qiu had no previous record of criminal activity or mental health problems.

The Psychological File of “Crazed Killer” Qiu Xinghua included background about his family. It stated that Qiu Xinghua’s mother had mental problems and talked to herself for two or three hours almost every day; Qiu Xingfu’s basic summary of Qiu Xinghua’s personality included “Bad temper. Do not provoke.”

The background account described an incident when Qiu Xinghua was twenty years old, involving Qiu Xingfu hitting him while he was still sleeping, after which Qiu Xinghua picked up a hoe and tried to attack him.

The background account stated Qiu Xinghua liked to read novels and compared himself with the famous general Han Xin who allowed himself to be humiliated. It said Qiu Xinghua’s frequent saying was:

“I'm not afraid of dying at 36 (which is the age when Han Xin died); I'm only afraid of dying unknown.”

The background account described that Qiu Xinghua had gone to “jail” four times for administrative detention and was detained for 15 days for taking home wire that fell down for the village public announcement system. It also said he was arrested three times for “smuggling gold,” “trafficking in women trade” and “stealing railroad equipment,” which were later shown not to have been committed by him.

The background account stated that Qiu Xinghua said he had no gainful employment and was usually the suspect whenever some incident took place locally.

It also described an account of Qiu Xinghua and He Ranfeng’s marriage: He Ranfeng and her family pursued them after they eloped, and He Ranfeng was locked up for nine days. He Ranfeng was said to have been let out after nine days.

It described quarrels between Qiu and He Ranfeng, with Qiu often starting arguments, fleeing after He Ranfeng fought back, and later apologizing. It stated he had a strange idea that the two daughters were not his.

The account described Qiu suspecting the children’s paternity and seeking divinations at the Iron Tile Temple, including purchasing about 30 RMB in joss sticks and candles before ascending on June 18.

It included a claim by Qiu that a reason for the murders was that the Iron Tile Temple director “touched his wife once.”

Statements about motives and actions

In the background account, while in the detention center, Qiu Xinghua told police he cruelly killed 10 people because the Iron Tile Temple director “touched his wife once.”

It said Qiu began by saying he killed because he did not like the “manners” of the Taoist priests and therefore he acted on behalf of justice just like the heroes of the nove, The Water Margin.

It said Qiu stated that the temple director Xiong Wancheng was the leader responsible for the actions of the Taoist priests, and he then said Xiong Wancheng “insulted” his wife, with Qiu admitting he had no proof but was convinced it was true.

It stated Qiu said:

“Therefore, he killed -- Even if he had to die ten thousand times over, he had to kill Xiong.”

It stated Qiu said he hated his “shameless” wife and planned to return home and kill her.

It stated Qiu said there was “no need” to kill his wife because she was the mother of his son.

It stated Qiu said he wanted to kill his wife’s brothers because they “took advantage” of him, and that he would first go home to kill them and then drown himself in the river or kill himself at his father’s grave.

It stated Qiu said he wanted to find “prostitutes” and kill them after screwing them, one after another.

It stated that Qiu insisted he was unrepentant except that he was sorry for his son whom he said was his, and included a question:

“So the daughter is no yours?”

It stated Qiu did not want to answer.

In the background account, Qiu Xinghua was described as grinding his teeth as if he hated those people as much as he hated Xiong Wancheng.

The account included that police identified the victims’ fatal wounds on their heads due to an axe or similar instrument.

It stated that Qiu Xinghua was superstitious and sought divinations, and he had conflicts many times with the temple administrators, and prior to the incident he had said he wanted revenge.

It included that Qiu Xinghua told the reporter that he denied the divinations about two stone tablets and said:

“That is a lie,” and then said he denied in a vague way.

It described that at the Iron Tile Temple Qiu killed a chicken and used its blood to write on a paper box with text:

“Ancient emperors are not promiscuous; violators will be killed; the sages did not allow adulterers and adulteresses ...”

It also described Qiu’s statement that he wanted to kill people, and included that he left a dog behind after it refused to move.

Capture and nearby actions

The background account described Qiu clearing weeds on his parents’ graves and showing admiration that neighbors were “doing well.”

It stated Qiu put two pieces of rock in his washing basin, and when asked why, he said:

“There are not rocks. They are crabs.”

It described Qiu glaring at He Rangao and asking:

“What? Are you a fortuneteller?”

It described Qiu telling a friend about a spotted dog, and if the friend did not want it, he said:

“I'll take care of it.”

It stated Qiu left with the dog before daybreak without saying farewell to anyone, leaving the door ajar.

Teacher and alleged debt

The background account stated that Qiu Xinghua’s teacher Deng Guofeng bought him a notebook and a pencil. It also stated that Qiu borrowed 300 RMB from Deng Guofeng to pay for the children’s tuition fees and the sum had not been repaid yet.

It stated Qiu told He Ranfeng he would repay the debt after he made enough money and visit Deng Guofeng.

It stated that during his flight Qiu cried when he remembered Deng Guofeng and said:

“I've let her down.”

It also included that Deng Guofeng did not remember treating this child specially and said she only treated him like any other child.

Additional administrative and search details

The background account stated that support logistics could not keep up with the searchers and therefore they were given only one bottle of water, one bun and a pack of pickled mustard. It added that in the roughest moment they did not even have drinking water.

It also stated that early morning on August 9, more than 200 public security officers and armed police officers of the “7/16 Hanyin Murders” case squad set out from the suspect's home in Yixin village, Houliu town, Shiquan county and began the second large-scale search in the mountain forests.

Drug, alcohol, and mental health context

The Shaanxi Higher People's Court refused to order a psychiatric test despite experts arguing his behavior and family history pointed to mental illness.