Six people have been sentenced to death for their part in the murderous riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjing Uygur autonomous region, that took the lives of 197 people on July 5.
The six learned they face execution at the Intermediate People's Court of Urumqi. It was a first-instance trial and there will be an opportunity to appeal the sentences.
The penalties were meted out to Abdukerim Abduwayit, Gheni Yusup, Abdulla Mettohti, Adil Rozi, Nureli Wuxiu'er and Alim Metyusup.
A seventh person was also on trial. The court gave Tayirejan Abulimit life imprisonment after he admitted murder and robbery. The court acknowledged that he helped police capture Alim Metyusup.
The defendants went on trial in three separate courtrooms at 10 am. More than 400 people, including the suspects' relatives, witnessed the proceedings, which were carried out in the Uygur language with simultaneous translation into Mandarin.
China Daily was present at the hearing in No 3 courtroom, where Abdukerim Abduwayit received the death penalty for intentional homicide and arson. He was the first person to be sentenced in connection with the July 5 riots.
Abduwayit was found guilty of stabbing five people to death on the city's Tuanjie Road and of burning down a building, which caused several injuries.
Two of his five victims were under the age of 18, China Daily learned.
Without denying the prosecutor's allegations, Abduwayit asked the court for "a second chance".
Pictures of his victims and the locations they were killed were shown to the court. Many watching proceedings were overcome with emotion as video footage was shown of Abduwayit brutally beating and stabbing one of his victims.
In another case, Gheni Yusup led Abdulla Mettohti, Adil Rozi and Nureli Wuxiu'er in the beating deaths of four people and in injuring another. Mettohti was also among a mob that set ablaze a grain and oil shop, killing five people hiding inside and causing an economic loss of 1.37 million yuan ($201,000).
In a third case, Alim Metyusup and Tayirejan Abulimit together killed three people and seriously injured another. They also robbed their victims of their mobile phones.
In addition, Alim Metyusup joined mobs in the killing of two more people and in the torching of homes.
Urumqi residents were quick to welcome the sentences, many saying they were just.
"They deserve the sentences they received and it is what the public desired," said Cui Chunyu, a local telecom worker. "The prosecutors collected a large amount of evidence, which made the final results convincing. I saw justice done today."
Nurmemet Aps, an Imam at a local mosque, agreed.
"I am happy to have seen a fair trial today," he said. "People should learn that no one, regardless of their religion, can get away with crimes under the law."
Forty-year-old Urumqi resident Wang Li said the community had waited patiently for the first trials.
"Everybody was looking forward to the hearings," she said. "We want to see those criminals punished for what they did. I think the sentences are very appropriate."
Earlier reports said accusations had been brought against 108 suspects thought to have been involved in the July 5 riots, which left 1,700 people injured in addition to the 197 who were killed.
A total of 21 suspects face charges of homicide, arson and robbery. The remaining 14 will be tried in the near future.
All defendants have the right to appeal but the verdict at their second trial will be deemed final, according to Chinese law.