(ECNS) -- A teenage boy was sentenced to life imprisonment as his purchasing of 24 imitation guns was held as arms smuggling, according to Southern Metropolis Daily.
The 19-year-old boy, going by the pseudonym of Liu Weiming, bought 24 imitation guns online from a seller in Taiwan last year, which were seized by Shishi Customs in Fujian province on July 22.
Liu was prosecuted for arms smuggling, as among the 24 imitation guns, 20 were identified as real arms, and was sentenced to life in prison during the first and second trails.
His parents said they would continue to appeal.
Zhou Yuzhong, Liu's lawyer, said the teenager didn't have the intention to smuggle weapons as these guns were identified as legal toy guns in Taiwan. "Liu bought them for collection, and indeed, didn't even receive the guns," he added.
In the second trial, Zhou asked for a verdict of innocence.
