A prisoner is shown being led to his execution, April 2002

CHINA. TEACHER EXECUTED FOR RAPING 32 SCHOOL GIRLS

September 9, 2005: Lu Lei, a teacher convicted of raping 32 girls under the age of 14, was executed in southwest China a day before the country marked its annual Teacher's Day. Lu, 22, was put to death in Mianyang city, Sichuan province, the Huaxi Metropolitan Daily reported. The Sichuan high court had earlier overturned an appeal. The Guantai elementary school teacher had been convicted of raping the girls and committing obscene acts in front of the children in their physical education courses and after school. Lu, who became a teacher at age 19, reportedly raped 12 of the students more than 20 times. Parents became aware of the crimes in May 2004, and Lu was sentenced to death in the initial case in December 2004.
"Tomorrow is Teacher's Day," Lu was quoted as saying before he was executed. "As a former teacher, I hope that the male teachers out there will learn from me, become law-abiding citizens and not go down the dead end road that I travelled.
"I hope that my students can walk out of the shadow that I have cast quickly and enjoy a happy life." (Sources: Agence France Presse, 10/09/2005)