The Provincial Higher People's Court of Yunnan Province reheard a murder case on Monday, in which the culprit Li Changkui killed two people after raping one of them.

The retrial follows the Yunnan Provincial People's Procurator stating that the "previous ruling was too lenient" in the retrial decision document.

Li, a farmer who raped an 18-year-old girl before killing her and her three-year-old brother in Yingge Village of Qiaojia County, was sentenced to death with a two year reprieve by the provincial higher court in March.

The ruling triggered a cyber frenzy as Internet users called for a harsher punishment.

The public prosecutor, the Yunnan Provincial People's Procurator, said during the court proceedings that Li should be given the death penalty without reprieve, as "his motivation was evil, his conduct was cruel and the result was serious."

Prosecutors said the victims were innocent, compensation from Li's family was not voluntary and Li hadn't been forgiven by the victims' family.

Li has confessed to raping the girl and murdering her and her brother.

Many people had gathered outside the court Monday waiting for the verdict.