Henan 'murder' victim turns up alive, well after 11 years
By Wang Xiang |
May 8, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE fate of a convicted murderer who has been in prison for 10 years took a dramatic twist when his victim, presumed dead for 11 years, turned up at home alive and well.
Everyone in Zhaolou Village in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, thought Zhao Zhenxiang was killed in a fight with Zhao Zuohai in 1999.
Zhao Zhenxiang's reappearance this month cast doubt on the long sealed case that sent Zhao Zuohai to death row even though his family claimed the court's verdict was based on a tortured confession, People's Daily reported.
Zhao Zhenxiang scared people when he walked back to the village on May 2 as everyone thought he was dead, People's Daily reported. He smiled upon his return and said he wanted to claim his social security checks.
Zhao Zuohai was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 2000 for the fight with Zhao Zhenxiang. The fight was over a woman they were both romantically linked to. Zhao Zhenxiang went missing after the fight and Zhao Zuohai was detained for a brief period before being set free.
But a headless body was excavated when villagers were digging a well one year after Zhao Zhenxiang went missing. Zhao Zuohai was found guilty and the court passed the death sentence quickly based on his confession and a DNA test that showed the dead body was Zhao Zhenxiang's.
Zhao Zuohai has been serving time at Henan's No.1 Prison for 10 years. His jail term was commuted to 29 years.
During the past 10 years, the man's home collapsed, his wife remarried, and three of his four kids were adopted by strangers, according to Yu Fangxin, Zhao Zuohai's brother-in-law, the report said.
Upon his return from the dead, Zhao Zhenxiang said he fled the village in 1999 because he feared he might have killed Zhao Zuohai.
Villagers said Zhao Zhenxiang has been taken to a local police station for questioning. Officers denied this and the head of the public security bureau refused to comment on the case.
A police officer said that in 1999 the DNA test technology was not accurate, adding Zhao Zuohai would be compensated if a mistake was made.
Everyone in Zhaolou Village in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, thought Zhao Zhenxiang was killed in a fight with Zhao Zuohai in 1999.
Zhao Zhenxiang's reappearance this month cast doubt on the long sealed case that sent Zhao Zuohai to death row even though his family claimed the court's verdict was based on a tortured confession, People's Daily reported.
Zhao Zhenxiang scared people when he walked back to the village on May 2 as everyone thought he was dead, People's Daily reported. He smiled upon his return and said he wanted to claim his social security checks.
Zhao Zuohai was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 2000 for the fight with Zhao Zhenxiang. The fight was over a woman they were both romantically linked to. Zhao Zhenxiang went missing after the fight and Zhao Zuohai was detained for a brief period before being set free.
But a headless body was excavated when villagers were digging a well one year after Zhao Zhenxiang went missing. Zhao Zuohai was found guilty and the court passed the death sentence quickly based on his confession and a DNA test that showed the dead body was Zhao Zhenxiang's.
Zhao Zuohai has been serving time at Henan's No.1 Prison for 10 years. His jail term was commuted to 29 years.
During the past 10 years, the man's home collapsed, his wife remarried, and three of his four kids were adopted by strangers, according to Yu Fangxin, Zhao Zuohai's brother-in-law, the report said.
Upon his return from the dead, Zhao Zhenxiang said he fled the village in 1999 because he feared he might have killed Zhao Zuohai.
Villagers said Zhao Zhenxiang has been taken to a local police station for questioning. Officers denied this and the head of the public security bureau refused to comment on the case.
A police officer said that in 1999 the DNA test technology was not accurate, adding Zhao Zuohai would be compensated if a mistake was made.
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