A former manager of an elevator factory has been sentenced to death for murdering and dismembering seven women he paid to dance with in nightclubs in the northeastern city of Shenyang.

The verdict was passed by the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, on Wednesday.

Liu Xuexin, 56, murdered his victims, all aged between 31 and 51, between March 22, 2005 and Oct. 31, 2005, the court heard.

The women had all been working in bars. Liu danced with the women and took them home after gaining their trust. Liu killed them in his bathroom, dismembered their bodies and dumped the limbs in different places. He also sold the jewelry of his victims.

Liu was arrested at his home on Nov. 3, 2005 and charged on Dec. 8.

The court also ruled that Liu should pay over 1.1 million yuan in damages (about 141,000 U.S. dollars) to the victims' families.

Source: Xinhua