Nanny in Hangzhou fatal arson case given death sentence

Mo Huanjing stands trial at Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court on Feb 9, 2018. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Mo Huanjing, a nanny accused of setting a fire and causing the death of her female employer and the employer's three children, received death sentence at Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court, Zhejiang province.

A trial was held on Feb 1, after a hearing was suspended on Dec 22 when her previous defense lawyer Dang Linshan walked out for failing to have the hearing moved to another court.

Mo is accused of setting fire to the apartment in Shangcheng district in Hangzhou on June 22, leading to the death of her employer Zhu Xiaozhen and Zhu's three children aged 6, 8 and 11.

Mo expressed her remorse after initial hearings, saying she didn't mean to hurt the victims and was deeply sorry. She pleaded guilty in the hope of getting a lighter sentence.