As a Chinese mother, I am deeply pained by the murder case of Shen Xiaoyu that occurred seven years ago in downtown Burnaby. Shen Xiaoyu, this lovely 13-year-old Chinese girl, had her life abruptly ended by the cruel rape and murder committed by a wolf in sheep's clothing. On February 8, justice was finally served, and the killer, Syrian refugee Ali (phonetic), was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years!

Although justice has been served, my heart still aches immensely for a pure and innocent girl who had to endure such a cruel fate. Shen Xiaoyu, if she were still alive today, should be a graceful young woman in her twenties, but because of that tragedy, her smile, dreams, and life vanished in an instant. There has never been a "what if" that could bring her back; for her departure, we can only silently mourn and regret.

What is fortunate is that justice has finally been served, albeit belatedly.

In the Greater Vancouver area, the Shen Xiaoyu case has consistently drawn widespread public attention, with numerous demonstrators outside the courthouse calling for severe punishment for the killer during each trial. After nearly seven years, the jury finally ruled that the killer was guilty of first-degree murder, and this fair sentencing has helped restore public confidence in Canada's judicial system. Harsh punishment for the rape and murder of a minor girl is a protection for the entire vulnerable group.

The process by which Ali attacked, violated, and killed Shen Xiaoyu is infuriating and shocking. At the same time, this case has sounded an alarm for many parents, urging new immigrants to pay attention to the protection of their underage children, even in a relatively safe and legally sound country like Canada.

As parents, we need to teach our children how to protect themselves in the face of danger, establish good communication channels and methods with them, and especially during their rebellious phase, children need the patience and wisdom of their families. Many similar cases arise from children running away from home in anger after conflicts with their parents. The problems of children are essentially the problems of their parents. As guardians, we must cultivate virtue and set an example so that children can open their hearts to communicate with us, sharing any situations that make them feel uneasy or threatened, allowing guardians to identify problems in a timely manner, help children find solutions, and let them grow up in a free and peaceful environment.

The Shen Xiaoyu case also reminds me of the case of Chinese visiting scholar Zhang Yingying, who went missing at Arizona State University in the summer of 2017. After obtaining solid evidence and testimonies, the American police prosecuted her killer, Christensen, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 19, 2019. Christensen received the same punishment as Ali, who killed Shen Xiaoyu, being sentenced to life imprisonment but not to death.

Life is only given once to anyone, and in the judicial systems of the U.S. and Canada, the sentencing for the death penalty does not align with the belief of many Chinese people that for heinous criminals, a life must be paid for a life, and the death penalty should be applied.

If justice had not been served in the cases of Shen Xiaoyu and Zhang Yingying, would we see a similar situation in American and Canadian courts as the case of the German mother of revenge?

In Germany, in March 1981, the vengeful mother Marianne pulled the trigger in court, ending the life of the man who murdered her 7-year-old daughter, causing a global sensation. This incident raised a profound question: can justice only rely on the judgments of the legal system, and if justice is not served, is self-executed justice still justice?

If there were no judges in the world, a mother would take up arms to act as the king of hell.

Whether the execution of justice comes from the court or personal action, it is the final sanction against crime. In universal values, blood-related revenge can serve as a deterrent to crime, making criminals deeply aware that their actions will be severely punished, and they will inevitably get what they deserve! Of course, this does not overlook the importance of the rule of law; every citizen in society has the obligation to defend the fairness of the legal system, so that the law can better protect individual rights. Therefore, when others encounter misfortune, we cannot merely be silent bystanders; we should stand up to speak for the victims. Pursuing justice is the responsibility of each of us, no matter which country we are in!

Remembering Shen Xiaoyu. May she find eternal peace and care in heaven.