国内英语新闻:China court releases man after 21 years on death row

HAIKOU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- An east China court on Monday announced that it had quashed the conviction of a man who was sentenced to death 21 years ago.

Chen Man, who is now 53, was released Monday from Meilan Prison in south China's Haikou City after the Zhejiang Higher People's Court overturned his conviction.

Chen was arrested at the end of 1992 on charges of arson and murder. He was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by Haikou Intermediate People's Court in November 1994.

However, the local procuratorate deemed the sentence "too light" and urged a higher court to adjust it to death and execute Chen, according to Zhejiang court. The procuratorate's request was rejected by Hainan Higher People's Court in 1999, beginning a 16-year appeal ordeal for Chen and his family.

"His role in the murder is not clear and the original judgement lacks evidence, therefore, the guilty verdict cannot be confirmed," Zhejiang court said in its statement.

The court said Chen had the right to apply for state compensation.

The deputy head of Hainan higher court apologized to Chen after the announcement, Yi Yanyou, Chen's attorney, was quoted as saying by news website thepaper.cn.