China court to reopen 1996 case of alleged wrongful execution of young man
Mother seeks to clear son's name nine years after another man had confessed to the crime
A court in Inner Mongolia says it will reopen a 1996 murder case as early as next month after years of petitioning by parents of the convicted killer and activists. This means, Hugjiltu and also known as Qoysiletu, who was executed in 1996 at the age of 18 for a crime he did not commit will likely get his name cleared.
The news has attracted national attention as China is gearing up for systematic legal reforms prompted by President Xi Jinping. Hugjiltu received two bullets in his head after being convicted of raping and killing a woman in Hohhot in 1996. He had maintained his innocence and said in later-revealed statements that he had been beaten by police who coerced him into confessing.
In 2005, a man named Zhao Zhihong confessed to the police that he had killed the woman.
Legal scholars pointed out that the lack of direct evidence, absence of a DNA test and questionable methods of interrogation all raised questions about the validity of the verdict in Hugjiltu’s case.
Since his execution, Hugjiltu’s parents have petitioned the local authorities to reopen the investigation of the case.