Men accused of murdering tourist in China

Two Chinese men will go on trial next week accused of stabbing to death a British backpacker during a robbery three years ago.

Shirine Harburn, from Crawley, West Sussex, was hiking on Paoma Mountain in the south-western province of Sichuan three years ago when she was attacked.

Liu Yonghua, a police spokesman for the province’s Ganza Region said the two men were arrested in March and had admitted killing the 30-year-old.

The pair, who were not identified, will appear in court in Kangding on Monday charged with murder and robbery.

“It is very probable that the two will be sentenced to death,” Liu said.

Crimes against foreigners in China often are punished more severely than those against ordinary Chinese as part of efforts to keep up an image of safety for tourists and foreign investors.

The two men are accused of stabbing Ms Harburn after she struggled with them and called for help, Liu said, adding that they took about £250 (€355) in local currency from her.

She was stabbed 12 times with a small craft knife that was found near the body. There was no evidence of sexual assault, the Foreign Office said at the time.

The men had robbed a restaurant before fleeing to Paoma with plans to rob spectators at a horse race, Liu said.

He said they targeted Ms Harburn because she was travelling by herself after seeing her boyfriend Colin Horsfield off in the foothills earlier that day.

The couple – both described as experienced travellers – had been backpacking in the area which is remote but popular with Chinese tourists.

A spokesman for the British Embassy in the capital Beijing said he had no immediate comment because of the ongoing investigation and legal procedures.