Former Peking University student Wu Xieyu was given a death sentence on Thursday for murder, swindling and buying identity cards, according to the Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court in East China's Fujian Province.

(Photo: CFP)

After the passing of his father, Wu was plagued by depression and killed his mother on July 10, 2015. He also defrauded relatives and family friends of 1.44 million yuan ($215,000) by giving excuses about studying abroad. He avoided police for three years by using more than 10 fake identity cards.