Seven people went on trial yesterday for their roles in a fatal arson attack in the city of Pingdu, east China's Shandong Province.

Five of the seven men charged with a fatal arson attack stand trial yesterday in Qingdao, Shandong Province. One man died and three others were injured when the tent in which they were sleeping was set on fire. All four were protesting against a property development in their village.

In the early hours of March 21, a group of men organized by 34-year-old Wang Yuefu set fire to a tent in which they knew four people were sleeping.

The victims were residents of Dujiatuan, a village in Pingdu, who were protesting against a property development in the area. They had been forced to sell their homes to the developer and were dissatisfied with their compensation payments, the Intermediate People's Court of Qingdao heard.

The tent had been erected near the construction site and was occupied around the clock so that the villagers could monitor and disrupt the development.

The blaze started by Wang's accomplices caused the death of 62-year-old Gen Fulin and injured fellow protesters Du Yongjun, Li Chongnuan and Li Delian, prosecutors said.

The plan to intimidate the protesters was formulated by Du Qunshan, 40, director of the Dujiatuan village committee, and Cui Lianguo, 42, Du's opposite number from the neighboring village of Wujiangtuan.

On March 16, Du met Wang and told him of his plan to intimidate the villagers. Wang then recruited three accomplices — Li Qing, Li Xianguang and Chai Peitao, the court heard.

On March 20, Du met Wang again and told him to set fire to the villagers' tent so as to scare them away, the court was told.

Sometime between 1am and 2am on March 21, the group, which by this time had been joined by a fifth member — 27-year-old Liu Changwe — arrived at the construction site in a vehicle driven by Chai.

According to prosecutors, Li Qing stood at the entrance to the tent armed with a knife, while Li Xianguang doused it in gasoline. Liu Changwei then set light to a towel and threw it inside. Once the tent was ablaze, all three men fled the scene.

The next morning, Wang paid Li Qiang 5,000 yuan (US$814).

Police detained Wang, Chai, Li Qing, Li Xianguang on March 24 and Liu, Cui and Du the following day. All seven men were charged with arson, while all but Cui and Du were also charged with affray.

The trial will continue today.

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