Dissident who killed author in Hampstead is jailed for life

A CHINESE-born dissident was jailed for a minimum of 20 years today for beating an 86-year-old author to death, after a historic Old Bailey trial partly held in secret.

Wang Yam, 46, of Hampstead, was convicted last month of the murder committed in May 2006.

Much of his trial had been held in secret after Yam, a naturalised Briton, told the jury he had publicly criticised the Chinese government.

Mr Justice Ouseley imposed court orders for private hearings and banned even "speculation" about evidence "for reasons of security". This was challenged by the BBC and six newspaper groups, including Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Evening Standard.

Yam beat to death Allan Chappelow, an expert on George Bernard Shaw, in the reclusive author's home in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, and buried the body under Mr Chappelow's proofs. He then tried to take £56,000 from the author's bank accounts. Yam fled to Brussels before being extradited from Switzerland for trial.

Yam was found guilty of murder, burglary and dishonesty, charges he denied. He was jailed for life.