China Voice: Review of decades-old murder case highlights pursuit of justice

Two decades after Nie Shubin was convicted and executed on rape and murder charges, his case is being reviewed.

The 21-year-old was found guilty in 1995, but in 2005 another convict, Wang Shujin, confessed to the crime.

The hearing, held on Tuesday in east China's Shandong Province, highlights China's pursuit of justice and the country's resolve to ensure rule of law.

Over the course of 10 hours, the court heard opinions from representatives and legal counsel from Nie's family and authorities involved in the original case. It was not open to the public out of concern for privacy, but 15 selected members of the public were present.

Though the final decision has yet to be announced, the process is a step forward to pursuing the truth while promoting a better justice system.

To ensure impartiality, the review was heard at a court in Shandong rather than in north China's Hebei Province where the original crime occurred.

Written records of the process were published via popular microblogger service Sina Weibo, where the public can see both sides debate issues such as the grounds of conviction, doubts in evidence and whether or not torture and forced confession were used in the original investigation.

Such hearings are not frequently used in judicial review procedures, but as China's court system vies for more judicial transparency, Nie's case will not be an exception.

Courts have adopted similar practices in the past so that arrest warrant, indictment or sentence can be considered.

Public opinions should not be a substitute for professional judgements, but by ensuring the public's right to know and to supervise, human errors may be avoided or addressed in a timely manner.

Not only should justice be done, it also needs to be seen.

The review of Nie's execution, which sheds light on a case once shrouded in doubt and controversy, has provided the public an opportunity to see how justice is conducted in China's court system.

Only by promoting openness and facing others' doubts squarely can the country's justice system win authority and public confidence. Endi