China has come out with reforms to criminal procedures and the role of court trials in a bid to reduce wrongful convictions.
These judicial reforms began in 2014, and a 21-clause document was signed in July. It stresses the presumption of innocence; identifies several problems in the current litigation system; puts forward a package of changes in the rules of evidence and investigation; and sets out the court's key role of protecting the rights of all interested parties.
Experts believe the trial-centered reforms will change the practice of the current investigation-centered criminal procedures, which mean court trials rely heavily on files and records.