Overseasidol.com — The Intermediate People’s Court of Xianyang, Shaanxi Province has released a detailed report on a shocking murder case involving actor Zhang Yiyang, who became the first celebrity in China’s entertainment industry to be executed by law.
Zhang was executed by firing squad on December 18, 2024, after being convicted of brutally killing his 16-year-old girlfriend.
According to the court’s report, Zhang Yiyang began dating the underage victim in September 2021.
Their relationship deteriorated when the girl asked to break up. Zhang allegedly threatened suicide multiple times to pressure her into staying with him.
On February 26, 2022, Zhang invited the victim to a secluded wooded area in Xingping City, Shaanxi, under the pretext of spending his birthday together.
The two argued once again over the breakup. In a fit of rage, Zhang pulled out a folding knife he had prepared in advance and attacked her.
The assault caused severe damage to her carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea, and esophagus, leading to death by massive blood loss and mechanical asphyxiation.
After the murder, Zhang took the victim’s phone, returned home by taxi, changed his clothes, and discarded the murder weapon and related evidence in a water reservoir to cover his tracks.
The following day, he attempted suicide at a guesthouse but was discovered by staff, who immediately called the authorities. Police intervened, and Zhang was arrested.
The court concluded that Zhang’s obsessive and unstable emotional state, coupled with his inability to accept the breakup, led to the tragedy.
His actions were deemed extremely cruel, socially harmful, and damaging to the public image of the entertainment industry.
After a full trial, Zhang was sentenced to death and permanent deprivation of political rights. His appeal was rejected, and he was executed on December 18, 2024 by firing squad.
This case has sparked widespread debate in China regarding mental health, toxic relationships, and the darker side of the entertainment industry.
It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of emotional education and strict law enforcement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
