Beijing man Yang Jia, who allegedly murdered six policemen and injured another four in a knife attack in Shanghai two weeks ago, was charged with premeditated murder on Thursday.

The No. 2 division of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate announced the charge, declaring Yang guilty of premeditated murder of unarmed policemen.

The procuratorate office held the charged criminal facts were clear.

Yang, 28, allegedly stabbed a security guard at the police branch in Zhabei District, Shanghai and started a fire at its gate. He then forced himself into the building and attacked nine police officers, according to the public prosecution.

The four injured, including the security guard and three policemen, were still in hospital. Police said they were in stable condition.

The procuratorate obtained evidence showing Yang was caught by Shanghai police for riding an unlicensed bicycle on Oct. 15, 2007, and was interrogated.

He later sued the officers for 10,000 yuan (1,464 U.S. dollars) in compensation for psychological damage. The claim was rejected by the local public security authority.

The procuratorate held Yang killed out of revenge for the interrogation.

Two Beijing lawyers who have offered to defend Yang questioned the accused's mental health, saying he could be suffering "temporary mental disorder."

Entrusted by Yang's father, Beijing-based lawyers Xiong Liesuo and Kong Jian arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. They have applied to meet Yang for a face-to-face talk.

The lawyers said a death sentence was likely in Yang's case, but added it was still "worth a try."

"We'll propose to Shanghai authorities for Yang to be tried outside Zhabei District, and in an open court session, to ensure fairness of the investigation and trial," said Xiong of the Beijing Xiongzhi Law Firm.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2008)