A woman was sentenced to eight years in jail Saturday for killing a demolition company employee last year after a dispute over a house demolition in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Wang Maling was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and ordered to pay 270,000 yuan (39,531 U.S. dollars) in compensation to the victim's family, in addition to the jail time, the Intermediate People's Court of Suqian City ruled after the court hearing Saturday.

The incident occurred on May 30, 2009, in Suqian.

Staff from the Chulong House Demolition Company, led by the victim surnamed Yuan, went to Wang's apartment to negotiate the demolition of Wang's mother's house.

The company's employees had previously threatened and verbally abused Wang's mother during previous negotiations, forcing the old lady to seek shelter in Wang's apartment.

Yuan then sealed the lock hole of the door, leaving Wang's family to get in and out of the apartment through a window.

Yuan and his colleagues were refused entry on the day of the incident and a clash erupted between them and Wang's two brothers.

Supporting her brothers, Wang suddenly rushed out of the apartment and repeatedly hacked Yuan on his neck and head. Yuan died on the spot.

The court said Wang used excessive force in self-defense but deserved lighter punishment as the victim's behavior had infringed her right to housing and posed a threat to her personal safety.

Yuan's family appealed against the verdict at the court.

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