China’s ‘Jack the Ripper’: Unable to pay, willing to donate organs

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The two-day trial of the man labled China's “Jack the Ripper” ended on Wednesday.

Gao Chengyong, 53, who has been indicted for killing 11 between 1988 to 2002, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of homicide, rape, robbery and mutilating corpses. He was being tried in a court in the city of Baiyin, in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Gao Chengyong is detained for trial. / Screenshot via CCTV

His lawyer Zhu Aijun told Beijing News that Gao “bowed towards the victims’ families three times while confessing,” admitted that he could not afford the compensation, but was willing to donate his organs. A victim’s relative confirmed the details of the trial.

Gao will remain in custody until he is sentenced.

Gao Chengyong's house in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. / VCG Photo

Gao managed to stay under the radar from police for 28 years. He finally got arrested in August 2016 after one of his relatives committed a crime in 2015 and the DNA test results led to the serial killer’s trace, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Gao Chengyong's house in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. / VCG Photo

Since being revealed, the serial killer’s crimes triggered furious uproars online. Gao in 1988 murdered a 23-year-old women at her home, where he was trying to steal valuable things. Gaining some kind of thrill from the first murder, Gao then took 10 more lives in 14 years. The youngest among his victims was only eight.

Gao's lawyer said he confessed to the crimes at the time of his arrest.

Police said Gao remained calm during the interrogation, showing no regret. According to Beijing News, when questioned about the details of his youngest victim's death, Gao admitted he committed that murder when his own son was only 10.

Gao has been married for 30 years and has two sons. None of the family members including his wife were aware any of his sinister behavior and they were shocked when told of Gao's crimes.