CHINA ISSUES DECREE ON REVIEWING DEATH PENALTY

China’s Supreme People's Procuratorate issued a new decree on reviewing death penalty sentences, clarifying specific regulations in reviewing cases, from the court trial to the judgment. The decree is named the ‘Regulation of the Second Trial of Death Penalty Cases (Draft)’. On January 1, 2007, the Supreme People's Court reserved the right to review all death penalty decisions made by lower courts, in order to avoid a miscarriage of justice. The new draft regulation orders the Supreme People's Court to primarily investigate the authenticity of evidence, and the reliability of testimonies while re-examining cases. Chinese lawmakers believe the country will eventually abandon capital punishment. "To abolish the death penalty is a step in the right direction in the development of China's legal system, but this will take time," said Zhang Yumao, a member of China's National People's Congress.