Xian County Liu Moufa Intentional Homicide Case (1978)

In 1978, in Xian County, Hebei Province, defendant Liu Zhenfa had a conflict with his fiancée over emotional and financial issues, leading to her calling off the engagement. Enraged, Liu forcibly entered her home and brutally murdered his ex-fiancée along with both of her parents. The triple homicide was particularly gruesome. Liu was swiftly apprehended by local authorities. As the case occurred just as China was emerging from the Cultural Revolution and restoring social order, its violent nature shocked the local community and drew significant attention from judicial bodies nationwide.

The Cangzhou Prefecture Intermediate People's Court convicted Liu Zhenfa of intentional homicide. Citing the extremely cruel methods and severe consequences, the court sentenced him to death with permanent deprivation of political rights. The sentence was submitted to and approved by the Supreme People's Court. Liu Zhenfa was subsequently executed by firing squad.

The facts of the case were clear, leaving little room for factual dispute. The central legal focus was on sentencing standards, given that the case occurred before the formal enactment of the 1979 Criminal Law. Judicial authorities debated the application of the death penalty under the prevailing policies aimed at severely cracking down on violent crime. It also raised questions about handling extreme crimes triggered by private relationship disputes.

The case became a landmark in the push for restoring legal order during the early Reform and Opening-Up period. It underscored the severe legal consequences of violent crimes and served as a cautionary tale regarding unmanaged personal conflicts. The heavy sentence reinforced the public's perception of a hardening stance against severe violence, contributing to the broader societal demand for a comprehensive criminal code, which was realized with the enactment of the 1979 Criminal Law.