Family has suspicions over death in custody
By Wang Xiang |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE sudden death of a detainee in central China has aroused deep suspicion among his family.
Police say the man died from a heart attack triggered by falling in a toilet but his kin claim the body was covered with wounds and had a blood-filled nose and mouth.
Chen Xujin died 40 days after being taken into custody in Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province, accused of stealing wine.
His relatives said police did not inform them of Chen's arrest until he died on February 16, Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.
They claimed the body had more than 30 suspicious wounds. His nose and mouth were filled with blood, and bruises were found around his neck and eyes.
They said Chen must have been beaten up.
But a local prosecutor surnamed Zhang said investigations had ruled out violence in Chen's death and that he received all injuries in the fall.
Police said Chen appeared weak during his detention.
But relatives said Chen worked as a porter in a wine shop and was perfectly healthy before he was detained.
Chen's family also suggested a cover-up as his clothes were washed before they arrived at the detention house.
Chen's sister, Chen Jingzhu, said an autopsy found there was bleeding in his brain and she heard the doctor saying this was caused by beating.
However, the doctor later denied this and the autopsy report does not record bleeding in the brain.
The doctor who pronounced him dead in February, Zhu Zhaoyang, said he was urged by detention house officers to cite heart attack as the cause of death. He said he put down a "question mark" in the report to show his uncertainty.
The head of the Xiushui Detention house has been sacked over the incident.
Police say the man died from a heart attack triggered by falling in a toilet but his kin claim the body was covered with wounds and had a blood-filled nose and mouth.
Chen Xujin died 40 days after being taken into custody in Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province, accused of stealing wine.
His relatives said police did not inform them of Chen's arrest until he died on February 16, Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.
They claimed the body had more than 30 suspicious wounds. His nose and mouth were filled with blood, and bruises were found around his neck and eyes.
They said Chen must have been beaten up.
But a local prosecutor surnamed Zhang said investigations had ruled out violence in Chen's death and that he received all injuries in the fall.
Police said Chen appeared weak during his detention.
But relatives said Chen worked as a porter in a wine shop and was perfectly healthy before he was detained.
Chen's family also suggested a cover-up as his clothes were washed before they arrived at the detention house.
Chen's sister, Chen Jingzhu, said an autopsy found there was bleeding in his brain and she heard the doctor saying this was caused by beating.
However, the doctor later denied this and the autopsy report does not record bleeding in the brain.
The doctor who pronounced him dead in February, Zhu Zhaoyang, said he was urged by detention house officers to cite heart attack as the cause of death. He said he put down a "question mark" in the report to show his uncertainty.
The head of the Xiushui Detention house has been sacked over the incident.
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