Beijing:
A 33-year-old mentally unstable man who stabbed 16 primary schoolchildren and a teacher in China's Guangdong province was sentenced to death by a court on June 10.
The incident took place on April 28 when Chen Kangbing, a teacher of Hongfu Primary School, barged into Leicheng First Primary School in Leizhou city and started attacking the students with a 40-cm-long knife. The victims, who suffered injuries in their heads, backs and arms, were students of the fourth and fifth grades.
Although none of the children died, Chen was charged with and convicted of murder in a first-instance trial at the Intermediary People's Court of Zhanjiang city Friday.
"Chen hacked at the children and teacher in a very cruel manner, causing great harm," a Chinese news agency reported, citing the verdict.
Though Chen admitted the charges, it was not immediately known whether he will appeal against it.
Initial investigations showed that the attacker was suffering from mental disorders and had been on sick leave since February 2006, a spokesman said.