Wu Xieyu, a former Peking University student, was convicted of murdering his mother, Xie Tianqin, in 2015. The case drew widespread public attention due to its brutality and Wu’s academic background.
Wu was accused of killing his mother by striking her with a dumbbell. To conceal the crime, he wrapped her body in multiple layers and used activated charcoal to mask odours. He then deceived relatives into believing she was alive, defrauding them of approximately 1.44 million yuan before the crime was discovered.
The case sparked significant public debate and moral shock. Wu remained at large for nearly four years, using fake IDs to evade capture until being detained in April 2019. During the pre-trial process, lawyers appointed by Wu’s family were denied access to him, as authorities had designated legal aid lawyers.
On August 26, 2021, the initial trial sentenced Wu to death. He appealed, and his defence requested a mental health assessment, citing his family history of mental illness and submitting psychiatric experts evidence. However, the court rejected the request, concluding that Wu was fully capable of understanding and controlling his actions. The Fujian High People’s Court upheld the ruling, and the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) approved the death sentence, concluding that he committed the murder due to “self-loathing and suicidal ideation.” The SPC review process allowed the defence limited time to prepare mitigation arguments. Wu was executed on January 31, 2024. His lawyer was seeking forgiveness from his mother’s family, but neither Wu’s lawyer nor his relatives were informed of the execution date in advance, preventing a final visit.
The case was selected as one of the "Top 10 Court Cases of the Year" in 2023. The Fujian High Court cited it in its annual report, reaffirming that "criminals who severely challenge the law and trample on human emotions should be sentenced to death."