The Standard of Proof for Redressing Wrongful Convictions - A Comparative Study with Case Analyses

Authors

  • He Jiahong Deputy Director of the Research Center for Criminal Law, Law School, Renmin University of China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.10

Keywords:

Chinese criminal proceeding, wrongful conviction, standard of proof, retrial, redressing.

Abstract

Instances of wrongful conviction have the nature of universality and latency. The determination of wrongful conviction has the nature of ambiguousness and antagonism. The facts behind a case of wrongful conviction are not always black-and-white; sometimes there is a grey zone, meaning that there is no way to determine with accuracy whether the defendant is guilty or not. As a result, the rectification of wrongful conviction becomes very difficult. In the case of Hugejiletu, for example, although the true perpetrator came out in 2005, the wrongful conviction had not been corrected by the court until the end of 2014. Therefore, the standard of proof for redressing wrongful convictions needs to be clarified. Through case analyses of the standard in USA, UK and Germany, we can see that the standard for redressing wrongful convictions are different from the standard for convictions, with the former being generally lower than the latter. We should restate the standard of proof for redressing wrongful convictions in Chinese criminal proceedings, and make distinctions between the standard for starting a retrial, the standard for redressing a wrongful conviction, and the standard for awarding a state compensation.

References

Chen Ruihua, Criminal Procedure of Chinese Mode, China Law Press (Beijing), 2010.

Chen Weidong, ed., The Study of Countermeasures for Issues of Fact in Criminal Procedure, China Fangzheng Press (Beijing), 2002.

Ellen Hochstedler Steury and Nancy Frank, Criminal Court Process, translated by Chen Weidong & Xu Meijun, China Renmin University Press (Beijing), 2002.

Fan Chongyi, ed., The Law of Criminal Procedure, the Publishing House of China University of Politics and Law (Beijing), 1999.

Guo Xinyang, Critical evaluations of wrongful convictions, the Publishing House of the People’s Public Security University of China (Beijing), 2011.

He Jiahong and Zhang Weiping ed., Foreign Evidence Law Selected Translation (the second volume), People’s Court Press (Beijing), 2000.

Liu Jinyou, ed. Evidence law, the Publishing House of China University of Politics and Law (Beijing), 2001.

Liu Pinxin, ed., Criminal Wrongful Conviction: Factors and Strategies, China Legal Publishing House (Beijing), 2009.

Mike McConville and Geoffrey Wilson, English criminal justice process, translated by Yao Yongji, the Law Press (Beijing), 2003.

Zuo Weimin, The Prospect of Criminal Procedure in China, SDX Joint Publishing Company (Beijing), 2010.

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Published

2015-06-11

How to Cite

Jiahong, H. (2015). The Standard of Proof for Redressing Wrongful Convictions - A Comparative Study with Case Analyses. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 4, 94–106. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.10

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Section

Articles