Southern Weekend, 2009-07-15
An article highlighting the dramatic failures of forensic experts, in particular coroners, to objectively and independently evaluate evidence in two cases explores the root causes behind their inaccuracies. In one case, Lian Lili was raped and strangled to death by a police officer in 2000; two different police coroner reports at the time found her cause of death to be acute pancreatitis and made no mention of rape. In another case, Li Shengli was severely beaten by police and died after being thrown out of a window. Police claimed he committed suicide and three coroner reports all failed to note the many non-fall-related injuries his body displayed. While coroners and other forensic experts who “make such mistakes or protect the mistakes of others very rarely receive punishment, those forensic experts who do bravely follow and speak the truth often become unwelcome people.” This is due to “illegal interference in forensic work by related departments and individuals.” The solution, the article suggests, is to guarantee the independence and neutrality of forensics with increased supervision and transparency.
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