Chinese woman kills herself and children after husband 'fakes his own death'

A woman in China killed herself and her two children after her husband allegedly faked his own death for an insurance payout.

The 34-year-old man was presumed dead after a car he borrowed was found in a river. He later gave himself up to the police.

His wife, who was unaware of the alleged plan, drowned herself, her four-year-old son and three-year-old daughter after posting a suicide note online, The China Daily reported.

The man, known only by the surname He, handed himself over to the police last Friday.

Mr He, from Xinhua county in Hunan province, was detained on charges of insurance fraud and intentional damage to property, police said.

Officers said he was in 100,000 yuan (£11,000) of debt and had taken out an insurance plan worth one million yuan (£110,000).

He is understood to have named his wife as beneficiary.

He borrowed a car and faked his death on September 19. The bodies of his wife and children were found on October 11.