Two defendants who caused the death of an 8-year-old pupil at a wushu club in Qingdao, Shandong province, in June last year were sentenced in a public trial on Thursday to life imprisonment and deprived of political rights for life for intentional injury, the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court said in a statement afterward.
A third defendant involved in the case was sentenced to three years in prison with a five-year probation for intentional injury.
The three were also prohibited from engaging in work involving close contact with minors.
The life sentences were given to a man surnamed Zhang, who operated the club, and a man surnamed Li, who was a coach. The third defendant is the son of Zhang, the club owner, and assisted in teaching.
The young victim, surnamed Zhai, participated in a training course at the club. During a session, the club owner, his son and Li bound and beat the boy because of his improper movements.
When the boy was found unconscious and in a coma, he was sent to the hospital for treatment. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he died.
A forensic examination found that Zhai died from traumatic shock and pulmonary embolism caused by extensive soft tissue damage from multiple blunt force blows.
The three defendants confessed to the police, the court said.