Two men who drowned seven people in bath tubs after robbing a Beijing bath house have been sentenced to death.

Hui Jinbo and Li Junlin were convicted of robbery and murder before the first-evidence sentencing at the No. 2 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing on Thursday.

The court had heard that Hui, a native from northeastern Jilin Province, and Li, a local Beijing resident, together with Feng Chaoyou and Wang Jiangqing, raided the bath house in the city's eastern Chaoyang District on May 13, 2003.

The gang robbed seven people -- the owner, assistants, boiler men and customers -- of 13,000 yuan (US$1,566), a car, bank deposit books and cellphones.

However, one of the victims recognized Hui during the robbery, so Hui told Feng and Wang to leave the premises. Hui and Li then drowned the seven victims in the bath tubs.

Feng and Wang were convicted of robbery and sentenced to life in prison.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2003)