Following the reappearance of a supposedly murdered man in China a couple of weeks ago, the Chinese courts have announced new rules that will discount evidence gathered through torture and intimidation. If implemented right, this could be a big deal. From the NYTimes:
Confessions gained through torture are thought to be common in China, though rights advocates and defense lawyers say such mistreatment gains public notice only when a defendant dies in custody. In some recent cases, jailhouse deaths have spurred protests and alarmed the authorities, who are eager to maintain social stability.
In a rare admission of the problem, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, which carries out investigations and prosecutions, issued a report in 2003 acknowledging that what it characterized as forced confessions had led to the deaths of 460 people and serious injuries for 117 others.
The stakes are high in China, which puts to death more people than all other countries combined. The government does not release figures on executions, but Amnesty International estimates the number exceeded 1,700 last year.
Of course, the passing of such a law doesn't necessarily mean that the new rules will be properly implemented, but it's a start.
Chinese courts to bar confessions gained by torture [NY Times]
