Chengguan family wants payout

The family of an urban management officer, or chengguan, killed by Xia Junfeng, a street vendor, said Friday they would still seek compensation even though the convict had been executed.

"I will continue to make a civil appeal to demand compensation from Xia's family," Shen Xiangdang, father of one of the two chengguan officers, was quoted by the Guangzhou-based Nandu Daily as saying. "The law is merciless and just. Any resentment makes no sense since I already know about Xia's death."

Xia stabbed Zhang Xudong and Shen's son, Shen Kai, to death in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, in a 2009 brawl over his street stall.

He was given a lethal injection on Wednesday after his death sentence, which has proved controversial, was approved by the Supreme People's Court.

Local authorities have compensated Shen's family with 900,000 yuan ($147,059).

Shen had long expressed his request for compensation from Xia's family due to his fury at hearing the news that Xia's wife appealed on the grounds that he acted in self defense, which Shen claimed obtained public sympathy.

Ji Jing, wife of Zhang Xudong, has not filed for compensation. Ji told the Chengdu Business Daily Saturday that her family is different from that of Shen. "Shen is already an aged parent, while the top priority for me is to raise my daughter in a peaceful environment," Ji said, wishing her dead husband, Shen and Xia rest in peace and those who are alive remain strong.