BEIJING A Chinese peasant dubbed the monster murderer has been executed for killing nine people and raping six in a one-year spree, the Legal daily said on Friday. Zhang Lisong, 30, was shot after a public sentencing rally in the central province of Hubei, the newspaper said. Police had caught him last March, one year after he started a province-wide murder, rape and robbery spree.

Zhang was the second serial killer to be convicted in China this year. (Reuters)