Foreign Ministry spokesman condemns murderer's cruelty

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday again expressed strong indignation and condemnation of the murderer's cruelty after Brendt Christensen, the man convicted of brutally killing Chinese graduate student Zhang Yingying in the US, was sentenced to life in prison for her murder.

"It is the most serious crime to deliberately deprive the lives of others against the law," Geng said, adding that China has always upheld that justice should be done - and the criminal punished - by law and the tragedy must not repeat itself.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the safety and lawful interests of its overseas citizens, and the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulates in the US will continue to follow the case and assist Zhang's family members in handling related affairs in the US, Geng said.

Christensen faced the death penalty but because the jury was unable to make a unanimous decision to impose death, the court was forced to sentence him to life in prison.