BEIJING - A CHINESE man who spent nearly 10 years in jail for murder has been cleared after the supposed victim reappeared alive and well.
Zhao Zuohai was jailed in 2002 for murdering one of his neighbours in a village in the central province of Henan in October 1997, Xinhua news agency reported late Saturday, quoting a court statement.
The neighbour went missing after the pair had a fight in October 1997, the report said, and Zhao was charged when a headless, decomposed body was found 18 months later.
Zhao was initially sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 29 years' imprisonment, Xinhua said. The supposed victim, Zhao Zhenshang, returned to the village April 30 and after confirming his identity, the court cleared Zhao Zuohai of murder on Friday, the report said.
Zhao Zhenshang, 56, told Xinhua he and Zhao Zuohai had been good friends, but fell out over a woman and money. He said he fled the village after hitting Zhao Zuohai, fearing his revenge, Xinhua reported, and stayed away as he had not earned much money and felt ashamed. A villager said that during Zhai Zuohai's time in prison, his wife had remarried and two of his children had been adopted.
Henan Provincial Higher People's Court has ordered an investigation into the case and said the judges responsible for the original verdict would be punished. --AFP
A Chinese man who spent almost 10 years in jail for murder has been freed after his supposed victim was found alive.
Zhao Zuohai had a fight with his neighbour, who then disappeared, and was charged when a headless, decomposed body was found 18 months later.
The miscarriage of justice came to light when the neighbour, Zhao Zhenshang, returned to his village in Henan province to seek welfare support.
He had fled after their fight because he feared he had killed Zhao Zuohai.
Mr Zhao's conviction for murder was reportedly based mainly on a confession. His brother said police had forced him to drink chilli-tainted water and set off fireworks above his head to extract one.
Correspondents say convictions in the Chinese court system are strongly dependent on confessions, motivating police to use force to get one. Henan Provincial Higher People's Court has ordered an investigation into the case and the original judges will be punished.
Mr Zhao was initially sentenced to death for the crime, but the sentenced was commuted to 29 years in prison. While he was in jail, his wife remarried and several of his children were adopted. --BBC
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