IOWA CITY — Justice for Tong Shao has finally been served, with life in a Chinese prison.
Xiangnan Li was sentenced today to life in prison in his home country of China.
Li was originally arrested in Iowa City after strangling Shao and putting her body in the trunk of her car, he was believed to be her ex-boyfriend.
Li was also from China and a student at the University of Iowa.
One part of this story that continues to be in question is exactly how long of a sentence Li will actually serve.
The Johnson County Attorney says Li may not spend his whole life in prison because under Chinese law, life imprisonment can be commuted to no less than 13 years in jail.
Li could have faced the death penalty in China, but the Chinese prosecutors did not push for it, because Iowa does not have such a punishment.
