China jails five over chef death

A Chinese court has sentenced five people to prison terms of up to five years over riots following the controversial death of a hotel chef.

More than 10,000 protesters clashed with police in the central Chinese province of Hubei in June.

The violence followed the death of 24-year-old Tu Yuangao who worked as a chef at a hotel in the town of Shishou.

Police said he had committed suicide but his family and demonstrators said he had been killed by the hotel boss.

At the time, there were reports that Tu was killed after he threatened to expose alleged drug trafficking at the hotel.

Among those sentenced for the clashes, in which 60 people were injured and 16 police vehicles were damaged, were two of Tu's relatives, including his brother.