Henan High Court to Allow Oral Arguments in Death Penalty Sentencing Reviews

河南高法尝试量刑答辩审理死刑案件

Xinhua News, 2009-04-15

The Henan High Court issued implementation guidelines introducing oral arguments from prosecutors, defendants and plaintiffs in incidental civil actions into the courts death penalty sentencing reviews. The arguments, which “in principle” will focus on sentencing, not evidence or the facts of the case, are intended to: “fully hear both sides', prosecution and defense, opinions on sentencing; further standardize judges' discretionary sentencing powers and guarantee sunshine trials; further promote judgments to be fairer and more just; further raise the adjudication quality of death penalty review cases.”