Doubts emerge over policeman killing of farmer in China land dispute
Official report into farmer shot dead by officer while he tried to stop bulldozers destroying his rice field does not hold water, says lawyer
Members of the public have expressed grave doubts about claims by officials from a city in Liaoning that a police officer who shot dead a farmer involved a land-grab dispute was acting in self-defence.
The tragedy happened in Panjin's Xingloutai district on Friday morning when the family of 36-year-old Wang Shujie was trying to stop two bulldozers from destroying their rice field, ready to be harvested in days.
The government said it had to make way for a 5 kilometre road to a newly built housing development but the family refused to give up the 1,400 square metres of land because of the low compensation offered.
An investigation report by Panjin prosecutors on Sunday said Wang's family had been obstructing the building of the road after their demand for higher compensation for a house 304 metres away from the construction area was turned down.
Construction workers called police after the family poured petrol on them and threatened to ignite it.
They also poured petrol over police officer Zhang Yan and attacked him with an axe and sickle, the report said. Zhang's left hand and wrist were badly injured.
He issued verbal warnings, used pepper spray and fired a warning shot, but Wang Zaiyuan , the father of Wang Shujie, did not back away. Instead, he attempted to seize Zhang's arm.