‘Murdered’ man reappears after 10 years in China

May 9th, 2010 - 3:43 pm ICT by BNO News  

BEIJING (BNO NEWS) — A central Chinese man convicted of murder was released on Friday when the ‘murder victim’ suddenly returned home after more than ten years, state media reported on Sunday.

Zhao Zuihai was officially declared innocent by the Higher Peoples Court on Friday, more than 10 years after his conviction for murder, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Zuihai and his neighbor, Zhao Zhenshang, were in a fight in Shangqiu City - in Henan Province - in October 1997. Zhenshang went missing directly after the fight, but his disappearance was not reported to authorities until four months later.

About a year later, in May 1999, a headless body was found in the village where Zuihai and Zhenshang lived. Zuihai was quickly arrested, charged and convicted of murdering Zhenshang.

But Zhenshang unexpectedly returned to his village last week, on April 30, Xinhua reported. The Higher Peoples Court confirmed Zhenshang’s identity on Friday and quickly acquitted Zuohai.

Zhang Liyong, chief judge of Henan Higher People’s Court, said an investigation into the wrong conviction is underway and the results of the investigation will be made public.

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