Chinese Court Sentences 14-Year-Old to Life for Rape and Murder

A 14-year-old boy in China has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old classmate.

According to the Qujing Intermediate People’s Court, the teenager attempted to sexually assault the victim in July 2025 and subsequently strangled her to death.

While the court characterized the nature of the crime as extremely serious, Chinese law explicitly prohibits the death penalty for defendants under the age of 18.

As a result, the court imposed a life sentence, the maximum legal penalty available for a minor under these specific circumstances.