A man in Guang’an, Sichuan Province, China, committed a ludicrous act by digging up his uncle’s grave and tossing the coffin bottom into the river. He did this because his uncle, before passing away, had threatened to inscribe his name on the coffin bottom, cursing him to “never rest in peace.”
According to Red Star News, during the Lunar New Year period, Yang, Jr. noticed signs of his father Yang, Sr.’s grave being tampered with and reported it to the police. After an investigation, the suspect was identified as Yang, Jr.’s cousin, Yang, III.
Before the incident, Yang, III, called many people to his uncle’s grave on the grounds that his uncle’s grave was being moved, and instructed them to dig out the coffin, turn it over, take out the bottom of the coffin, and then cover the coffin with soil again. Finally, he took away the coffin bottom and disposed of it in the river.
Upon investigation, it was confirmed that Yang, III, and Yang, Sr. had engaged in numerous arguments when alive, each time escalating to heated confrontations. During one argument, in a fit of anger, Yang, Sr. vowed to inscribe Yang, III’s name on the coffin bottom, condemning him to eternal unrest.
After Yang, Sr.’s death, Yang, III, was haunted by his uncle’s words, fearing the consequences if his name was indeed inscribed on the coffin bottom, thus prompting his absurd actions of grave desecration. Subsequently, Yang, III, was lawfully detained by the police for 15 days and fined 1,000 yuan.
Following the incident, Yang, Jr. sued Yang, III, in the local court, seeking compensation for funeral expenses and emotional distress. The court, after deliberation, found that the defendant, Yang, III, maliciously desecrated and damaged the grave of the plaintiff’s relative, which blatantly violated social norms and seriously contravened national laws and regulations. Therefore, Yang, III, was ordered by the court to pay a total of 47,353.87 yuan in compensation for emotional distress, funeral expenses, and other damages.