|
Wrongly Convicted Database Record
|
Charge: |
Murder |
Sentence: |
Death and later resentenced to 29 years |
Years Imprisoned: |
11 |
Year Crime: |
1997 |
Year Convicted: |
2002 |
Year Cleared: |
2010 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
China |
County or Region of Crime: |
|
City of Crime: |
|
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Zhao Zuohai was arrested in May 1999 for the murder of a neighbor who disappeared in October 1997 after the two had a fight. After 3-1/2 years awaiting trial, on December 5, 2002 Zhao Zuohai, was convicted of murdering his neighbor Zhao Zhenshang, based on his confession to the crime. Zuohai recanted his confession, claiming he had been forced to falsely confess by police torture. Zuohai's wife also testified that plastic bags found near the headless body of "Zhenshang" came from their home. Zuohai was given a suspended death sentence, and he was later resentenced to 29 years in prison at forced labor. On April 30, 2010 Zhenshang reappeared in the village after being gone for almost 13 years. The 58-year-old Zhenshang returned so he could receive welfare payments because he is disabled. After Zhenshang's identity was confirmed, Zuohai was acquitted of Zhenshang's murder on May 10, 2010, and he was immediately released from custody. Officials said they would conduct and investigation into how Zuohai was convicted of a non-existent murder. Several days after Zuohai's release he was awarded compensation of 650,000 yuan (about $96,000 U.S. dollars) He was not compensated for the more than 3-1/2 years he awaited trial. Zuohai's his ex-wife (who remarried after his imprisonment) claimed that police locked her in a factory and beat her until she 'confessed' that plastic bags found near the body had come from their home. Another question for authorities is who the dead person was, since it was not Zhenshang." |
Conviction Caused By: |
"Tortured by police into making a false confession. Police also beat a "confession" out of his wife that items found near the body came from their home." |
Innocence Proved By: |
Acquitted after alleged murder victim returned to the village alive after being gone for almost 13 years. |
Defendant Aided By: |
|
Compensation Awarded: |
"650,000 yuan (China, May 2010 (Equiv. US$96,000)" |
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
|
Age When Imprisoned: |
47 |
Age When Released: |
58 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
|
Information Source 1: |
"Wrongful conviction case under investigation, By Zhang Jiawei (Staff), China Daily, May 10, 2010" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/10/content_9830666.htm |
Information Source 2: |
"Murder convict set free after 'victim' turns up, By Wang Jingqiong and Li Yuefeng (staff), China Daily, May 10, 2010" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-05/10/content_9826714.htm |
Information Source 3: |
"Murder victim' returns home after 10 years, By Li Yuefeng, Jiao Hongchang, Sheng Jundong and Wang Yan (staff), China Daily, May 8-2010" |
Information Location 3: |
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/08/content_9824914.htm |
Information Source 4: |
"Farmer released after serving ten years for murder as ‘victim’ turns up alive, By Jane Macartney (China Correspondent), The Times (London) - 05-11-2010" |
Information Location 4: |
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7121815.ece |
Information Source 5: |
"Killer freed after 'victim' turns up alive, Global Times (China), May 11, 2010" |
Information Location 5: |
http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-05/530688.htmlhttp://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-05/530688.html |
Book About Case: |
|
Book Information: |
|
Book About Case (2): |
|
Book Information (2): |
|
Movie About Case: |
|
Comments About Case: |
Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org