Zhou Youping

Case overview

Zhou Youping was a Chinese karaoke singer who organized sexually abusive choking games in which six men were found naked and hanged to death in different hotels around Changsha city between 11 October and 26 November 2009. Police found the bodies of six male victims with them hanged to death and arrested Zhou on 28 November on suspicion of robbery, after which he confessed to the killings. Zhou had met the victims online through a gay website and had invited men to play erotic asphyxiation/choking games for money.

Timeline

• 11 October 2009 — Police found that bodies were discovered in hotels in Changsha between 11 October and 26 November 2009.
• 26 November 2009 — Police found that bodies were discovered in hotels in Changsha between 11 October and 26 November 2009.
• 28 November 2009 — Zhou Youping was arrested on suspicion of robbery and confessed to the killings.
• March 2011 — The Changsha Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Zhou Youping to death.
• August 29, 2014 — The Supreme People’s Court approved the death sentence and Zhou Youping was executed later that day.

Background

Zhou Youping worked as a singer in a karaoke bar in Changsha. He started seeking men online for sadomasochistic play in September 2009. Zhou published a public “invitation” on a gay website seeking volunteers with high payment to play sex games including hanging.

Police seized Zhou Youping after he had been suspected in a robbery on 28 November. Zhou was described as arguing that his victims were volunteers and that he intended no harm, and his arguments that he confessed and “intended no harm” were denied by the court.

The offence

Six male bodies were found in local hotels in Changsha between 11 October and 26 November 2009. All victims were found naked and hanged to death. Police described that Zhou encouraged the men to engage in erotic asphyxiation (choking games) in which one cuts off the supply of oxygen to increase sexual pleasure.

The court said Zhou did not release the men after they hanged themselves, leaving them to suffocate to death. Zhou said he knew the dangers of erotic asphyxiation and never took part himself, but he liked watching other people play. Zhou also said he usually left the room after he felt satisfied, leaving victims still hung.

Zhou argued that the victims were volunteers and should have freed themselves. Legal experts described his behavior as belonging to “indirect intent,” meaning the suspect knew of a potential dangerous result but did nothing to stop it, and that under the law, indirect intent to kill was the equivalent of murder.

Investigation

Police found the bodies of six men in different hotels between 11 October and November 26, 2009. Police arrested Zhou on 28 November and he confessed he was the one who hanged the men. Police believed the victims had been hanged to death as part of sex games involving erotic asphyxiation.

A pre-trial statement attributed to Zhou included:

“I didn't want them dead, it was only a game,” he said.

Zhou also said that he started killing his partners after he had been deceived several times.

Arrest

Zhou Youping was arrested on 28 November on suspicion of robbery. After his arrest, he confessed to the killings, according to police.

Trial

The Changsha Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Zhou Youping to death in March 2011.

Zhou said it was not intentional homicide because his victims hung themselves voluntarily, and the court denied his arguments that he confessed and “intended no harm.”

Zhou appealed to the Hunan Provincial Higher People’s Court, which found him guilty of two of the murders but upheld the death sentence. The other four charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.

In a pre-trial interview, Zhou denied killing the men.

Sentencing

The Supreme People’s Court approved the death sentence on August 29, 2014.

Appeals

The Hunan Provincial Higher People’s Court upheld the death sentence while overturning four murder convictions due to insufficient evidence, and it found him guilty of two of the murders.

Outcome

Zhou Youping was executed later on August 29, 2014, after the Supreme People’s Court approved the death sentence.

Other details

Zhou Youping was described as being 42. Another report described him as being 38 at the time of suspicion.

Police found a first named victim as “Feng Yu” from Gansu province. Zhou said he killed “Feng Yu” after he found a positive HIV test slip in his bag.

Zhou also described “Fang,” surnamed “Fang,” who asked him for “RMB5,000 ($813)” as soon as they met, and Zhou let him choke to death too.

Police also reported that three men reportedly survived Zhou’s hanging games.