Timeline

Dec 25, 1992: Police in Haikou, the capital of Hainan province, receive a report that a house in the city has been set on fire. Later, they find a body with knife wounds on it. Chen Man is detained as a suspect.

February 1994: Chen appears in Haikou Intermediate People's Court accused of homicide and arson.

Nov 9, 1994: The court sentences Chen to death for homicide and arson, with a two-year reprieve. Prosecutors lodge protest against the verdict, saying that Chen should have received the death penalty.

April 15, 1999: Hainan High People's Court rejects the prosecutors' protest, and the original verdict stands. Chen's family launches appeal, saying he is innocent.

Feb 10, 2015: Supreme People's Procuratorate lodges appeal against the verdict at Supreme People's Court, saying that after an investigation by the procuratorate Chen should be acquitted.

April 24, 2015: Supreme People's Court orders Zhejiang High People's Court to retry the case.

Dec 29, 2015: Officials from the Zhejiang court travel to Haikou for the retrial.

Feb 1, 2016: Chen released from a prison in Hainan.