The two men behind the grizzly murders of a Taiwan family living in Shanghai during a botched robbery in June were sentenced to death yesterday by the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court.

The trial was closed to the media.

Huang Ligang, 22, and Cheng Liang, 19, who are both from Jiangsu Province, entered a villa on Hongjing Road carrying sticks and knives early in the morning of June 23.

The pair waited outside for four hours until the Taiwanese family inside had gone to bed.

After the duo entered the home, Soong Yu, 40, awoke and fought with the buglers.

The Taiwanese businessman was stabbed to death during the fight, and the buglers then killed his wife Lin Huichun, 33, and their 5-year-old daughter.

A local couple living with the family was robbed and tied up.

Chen and Huang made off with a jeep, a cell phone and 80,000 yuan (US$9,639) in cash. They then fled to neighboring Jiangsu Province while driving the stolen vehicle.

Just 41 hours after the murders were reported, Shanghai police arrested them and the duo was escorted back to the city by some 50 local officers. They were paraded in front of the press wearing ski masks, handcuffs and leg restraints.

(eastday.com August 20, 2003)