China court sentences 3 to death for Kunming terrorist attack

Photo shows the facade of Kunming's Intermediate Court, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Sept 12, 2014. The court started a trial for four suspects on Friday on charges of murder and organizing a terrorist attack six months ago that turned a railway station in Southwest China's Kunming city into a scene of bloodshed and claimed 29 lives. [Photo/CFP]

Lawmakers, political advisors, victims and their relatives were among more than 300 members of the public present at the trial. The court also hired translators to help the defendants communicate in their native language during the trial.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said on Thursday that prosecutors should fast-track cases involving terrorists, religious extremists and manufacturers of firearms and explosives.

Fighting terrorism should be a priority for prosecutors as part of tough measures against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, according to an SPP statement.

It also emphasized that the cases must be handled without discrimination and under the principle of tempering justice with mercy.