A court on Wednesday rejected the appeal of a former policeman who was given a death sentence for shooting a pregnant woman dead in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Higher People's Court of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region upheld the verdict handed down to Hu Ping, who was sentenced to death for intentional homicide at his first trial in February.

Guigang Intermediate People's Court heard the case publicly on Feb. 13.Hu was also ordered to pay 73,324 yuan (12,091 U.S. dollars) in compensation to the victim's family at the first trial.

A police investigation found that Hu, 34, was drunk when he shot the woman and her husband, who ran a rice noodle restaurant, on Oct. 28 in Pingnan County.

The husband, Cai Shiyong, sustained minor injuries to his right shoulder. His wife, Wu Ying, and their unborn child died after being shot twice by Hu.

COURT RULING

In his defense during the the appeal hearing held on April 1, Hu denied that he shot three times as prosecutors alleged. He also argued the firearm residue on Cai's sleeve proved he had tried to grab the gun, which caused it to discharge accidentally.

During Wednesday's public trial, the Higher People's Court denied his arguments as several witnesses testified that Cai had not attempted to grab the gun until after his wife had been shot.

The court also rejected the request of Hu's lawyer's for new evaluation on Hu's mental state when the shooting occurred. The lawyer believed Hu was too drunk to be aware of his behavior.

An examination report by the Fifth People's Hospital of Nanning showed that Hu was drunk but in control.

According to the court, Hu, as a policeman, first violated the regulations on gun control by carrying a gun to a dinner party and getting drunk. Then he committed crimes by shooting innocent people and leaving one dead and the other injured, according to the Higher People's Court.

Hu's crime employed "exceptionally cruel methods" and caused "abominable influence on society," said the court.

The ruling of the first trial was based on "clear facts" and "valid and adequate evidence," and "the conviction was accurate and then penalty proper," it said.

It will report Hu's case to the Supreme People's Court for verification and approval, it added.

It has not yet been decided when the Supreme People's Court will deliver the final verdict.