XI'AN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A court in northwest China's Shaanxi Province Thursday upheld the death sentence for a man charged with multiple murders.

Zhang Koukou killed three members of a family -- Wang Zhengjun, his older brother and their father in 2018, according to Shaanxi Provincial Higher People's Court.

The court found that Zhang and the victims were neighbors. On Aug. 27, 1996, Zhang's mother died from intentional injuries caused by Wang Zhengjun during a dispute, who was 17 at the time. Wang was found guilty of intentional injury and sentenced to seven years in prison by a county court later that year.

On Feb. 15, 2018, the day before the Chinese Lunar New Year, Zhang sought revenge and stabbed the brothers to death on their way back from sweeping tombs. He then rushed to Wang's home and killed their father before setting fire to a car belonging to Wang's brother and fleeing the scene.

The higher court confirmed that Zhang surrendered himself to the police two days after the murder, but held that he should not be given lenient punishment based on the severe nature of his crime.

It ruled that the provincial procuratorate's opinion to dismiss Zhang's appeal and uphold the first instance sentence should be sustained, because "the original sentence was accurate and appropriate, and the trial was carried out in accordance with due litigation procedures."

The verdict will be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for approval in accordance with the law.