A Chinese couple, Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen, faced execution for the appalling act of throwing their two children out of a high-rise apartment building.
The tragic incident, which occurred in 2020, sparked nationwide outrage and led to their stringent punishment. The Supreme Court of China had approved their death sentence over two years ago, with reports suggesting that they were executed by lethal injection on Wednesday, as per China Daily.
Zhang Bo was convicted for the act of throwing his two children, a two-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy, from the 15th floor of the apartment building. His girlfriend, Ye Chengchen, faced charges for coercing Zhang into committing this heinous crime, allegedly considering the children as an “obstacle” to their relationship.
According to a report by the New York Post, Zhang initiated a relationship with Ye without disclosing his marital status and the existence of his two children. He divorced his wife, Chen Meilin, in February 2020, following which Ye compelled him to carry out the tragic act.
Disturbing videos surfaced on social media, showing Zhang in anguish immediately after the incident, banging his head against the wall and sobbing uncontrollably.
Zhang claimed to the police that he was asleep when the children “fell” and was awakened by the commotion downstairs. The children’s mother, Chen Meilin, expressed shock upon learning the horrifying fate of her children, stating, “The moment I heard my kids were actually thrown out of the 15th floor by their father and the mistress, I couldn’t find any words to describe my feelings.”
The crime committed by Zhang and Ye sent shockwaves across China due to its cold-blooded premeditation and the young age of the victims. The news of their execution quickly became a trending topic on social media in China site on Wednesday.