Accused aquitted after ten years:

Murder 'victim' returns home

CHINA: A man who spent almost 10 years in jail for murder has been acquitted after the alleged "murder victim" returned home in central China's Henan Province, the Henan Provincial Higher People's Court said Sunday.

Zhao Zuohai was declared innocent by the provincial Higher People's Court on Friday after the alleged "murder victim" returned home after more than ten years. A probe into the false murder charge has been launched. According to a court statement, in October 1997, Zhao Zuohai and his neighbor Zhao Zhenshang had a fight at their hometown in Zhecheng County, Shangqiu City, after which Zhao Zhenshang went missing.

Four months later, Zhao Zhenshang's nephew, Zhao Zuoliang, reported his uncle missing to the police.

A year later, in May 1999, a headless body was found in the village. Zhao Zuohai was arrested as the murder suspect and in 2002 he was convicted of murdering Zhao Zhenshang.

Zhao Zuohai was sentenced to death with a two year reprieve. The sentence was twice reduced, taking it down to 29-years imprisonment. But Zhao Zhenshang returned to the village on April 30, 2010. The Higher People's Court confirmed Zhao Zhenshang's identity on May 7 and acquitted Zhao Zuohai.

Zhengzhou, Monday, Xinhua