Chinese refugee guilty of killing recluse

LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A Chinese dissident who was given asylum in Britain in 1992 was convicted Friday of killing a millionaire expert on George Bernard Shaw to steal his identity.

Much of the trial at London's Old Bailey was held in secret because of national security considerations, The Times of London reported.

Allan Chappelow, 86, was beaten to death in 2006 in the Hampstead home where he had lived as a recluse for 15 years. Wang Yam, 47, was tried last year but jurors were unable to reach a verdict at the time.

Yam faces life in prison for the crime. He is to be sentenced Monday.

Investigators said Yan, who fled China after the Tiananmen Square uprising, had a history of defrauding other Chinese in Britain. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Yan stole Chappelow's mail while he was away and learned Chappelow was a rich man.

Chappelow's body was discovered in June 2006, buried under book proofs and papers in his living room. Yan tried to get access to his money but was unable to convince bank employees on the telephone that he was an elderly Englishman.

Yan denies the killing, saying he was framed by the Israeli secret service, the Mossad, or by Chinese triads.