HOHHOT, Dec. 31-- The parents of a man in north China's Inner Monglia Autonomous Region who was wrongly convicted and executed in 1996 will receive state compensation totaling more than 2 million yuan (about 322,000 U.S.dollars).

The verdict by the regional higher people's court was delivered to Li Sanren and Shang Aiyun, parents of Huugjilt, who was executed for rape and murder at age 18, on Wednesday morning.

The total amount reached 2.06 million yuan, including compensation for Huugjilt's death, funeral expenses, mental damages, and restrictions on his freedom prior to conviction.

"It is just a number, which will not compensate my lifelong pain. Money can buy things, but will never buy out the pain left in our hearts," said the mother, Shang.

Huugjilt's father, Li, said the family will buy a better grave site for their son after compensation is received, and said they have not decided what to do with the remaining amount.

"We cannot say we are satisfied or not with the compensation amount. It is just spiritual consolation for us," he said. "All we have been doing was to clear my son from his wrongful conviction. Now we feel relieved."

The couple said they would like to resume their peaceful lives as soon as possible.

"The case has finally come to an end, but I find it very hard to find inner peace. I remember every single detail about my son being pushed to his death. It feels like it just happened yesterday," Shang said, sobbing.

On Dec. 15, 2014, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Higher People's Court overturned Huugjilt's previous conviction and ruled he was not guilty of rape and murder, saying that the facts of his case were unclear and evidence was inadequate.

Feng Zhiming, the police officer who was in charge of Huugjilt's case and was later promoted for handling the case in a timely manner, is under investigation.

The Intermediate People's Court of Hohhot found Huugjilt guilty of raping and murdering a woman in a public toilet in Hohhot on April 9, 1996. He was sentenced to death and executed in June of the same year.

Doubts began to emerge in 2005, when suspected serial rapist and killer, Zhao Zhihong, confessed to the murder.

Zhao allegedly raped and killed 10 women and girls between 1996 and 2005. He was tried in late 2006, but no verdict has been issued.