A murderer who escaped the death penalty 10 years ago with a medical document attesting to his abnormal mental state was recently re-sentenced to death when he was found to be leading a normal, healthy life, reports Xinhua.

Zhang Liquan, a farmer in Wuji County, Hebei Province, killed Zhao Wenkai in 1993 after Zhao discovered Zhang stealing money from him.

Zhang was released with a verdict of not guilty later that year after the provincial mental health centre provided a document saying he was mentally disabled and could not control his actions.

When Zhao's wife Zhi Xiujun later tried to sue Zhang for civil responsibility, Zhang's village committee provided a document claiming Zhang was dead, and the suit was brought to a stop.

But in 2000, the court learned that Zhang was not dead, but working in the transport business as a driver with an unblemished record.

Zhang was re-sentenced to death in March.

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