Qi Feng

Biodata

Background / History

Shopping Mall Incident and Death Sentence

Qi Feng was attacked by two men at a shopping mall. Law enforcement’s report described both attackers as frequently involved in fights and recorded that Qi Feng was extremely frightened and panicked. He had not prepared a weapon beforehand: he noticed a knife in the mall and took it to frighten the men away, rather than intending to kill them 43 44.

When the assault continued, Qi Feng fought back with the knife, causing both attackers’ deaths. According to the defense’s account, which Lin Youping checked against the prosecution’s evidence, Qi Feng stopped when both men fell and did not continue harming them. Qi Feng described his immediate reaction to their deaths as fear 43 47.

The Northern Capital Intermediate Court sentenced him to death at his first trial. His case attracted extensive online debate over whether his actions constituted intentional homicide or excessive self-defense 38 40 42.

Preparing the Appeal

Qi Feng’s parents paid the legal fees to retain Su Bai after Luo Daxiang asked him to handle the case. Su Bai and Li Xuezhen obtained the first-trial file and visited Qi Feng at Bright Street Detention Center. Li Xuezhen secured approval for the visit after staff initially proposed a delay of about two days 38 39.

During the interview, Qi Feng appeared exhausted and believed that killing two people meant he would still be sentenced to death. Learning of Luo Daxiang’s involvement restored his hope, and he agreed to cooperate fully. He checked the first-trial evidence and found no errors, leaving the appeal to turn on the legal interpretation of established facts rather than their reversal 39.

Su Bai submitted the appeal petition, which the Northern Capital Higher People’s Court accepted and scheduled for a hearing 39.

Appeal Hearing

Before the hearing, prosecution representative Lü Wei publicly maintained that Qi Feng had committed intentional homicide. Su Bai sought an acquittal on grounds of lawful self-defense, together with 55,864.75 yuan in compensation, a public written clarification, and other remedial measures 41 42.

The defense used Qi Feng’s testimony and law enforcement’s findings to argue that his actions arose from fear and acute stress, not criminal intent. Lü Wei could not provide new evidence to rebut those findings. After the first recess, Lin Youping formally ruled that Qi Feng had neither desired nor consciously allowed the harmful consequences and had not committed intentional injury, removing the basis for his death sentence 43 44 45 47.

The remaining dispute concerned whether the defensive force had been excessive. Su Bai emphasized that the assault continued until the attackers fell; Lü Wei argued that their injuries had already deprived them of the ability to attack. In closing, Su Bai urged the court to assess the entire confrontation rather than only the deaths. The panel took a second recess before announcing its judgment 47 48.

Acquittal and Release

Qi Feng celebrated his release and tearfully thanked Su Bai. At Su Bai’s suggestion, he then went to his parents in the courtroom gallery and embraced them 49.

Personality

Qi Feng’s concern for his parents remains prominent even while he faces execution. He is their only child, and the family is not wealthy; during his first meeting with Su Bai, he asks whether they are doing all right and worries about the life they would face without him 39.

His initial hopelessness gives way to cautious trust after hearing that Luo Daxiang recommended Su Bai. Although bewildered by the brevity of the interview, he carefully reviews the evidence and cooperates with the defense. His relief at escaping execution, followed by his gratitude after acquittal, is openly emotional 39 47 49.

Relationships

• Parents — His unnamed parents retain Su Bai and pay his legal fees. They attend the appeal hearing and reunite with their only son after his release 39 49.
• Su Bai — His appellate defense lawyer. Secures the reversal of his death sentence, an acquittal, and compensation measures; Qi Feng repeatedly thanks him afterward 39 49.
• Li Xuezhen — Assists Su Bai with the defense, facilitates the detention-center visit, records the interview, and researches the presiding judge 38 39 40.
• Luo Daxiang — Criminal-law professor and commentator who asks Su Bai to take the case. His reputation gives Qi Feng renewed confidence in the appeal; he also livestreams and explains the hearing 39 42 49.
• Lü Wei — Represents the prosecution at both trials. Initially pursues the intentional-homicide position, then argues for severe punishment on grounds of excessive self-defense 41 43 48.
• Lin Youping — Presiding appellate judge who announces the finding against intentional injury and ultimately delivers Qi Feng’s acquittal 47 49.

Public Significance

• Widespread attention: Videos about the case accumulated hundreds of millions of views. Much of the online commentary supported Qi Feng by identifying with an ordinary person fighting back against an aggressor 40 48 50.
• Public reaction in the defense: Su Bai introduced a comment with over 100,000 likes questioning whether delayed justice adequately protects victims. He supplied supporting documents when Lin Youping requested them 40 48.
• Reaction from Luo Daxiang: Luo regarded even overturning the intentional-injury finding as a welcome result and viewed a justifiable-self-defense ruling as progress in the justice system 49.

Notable Quotes

“I took the knife... because I wanted to scare them.” 43

“Lawyer Su, thank you. Thank you.” 49

“I don't have to eat fucking prison food anymore!” 49