Killer's death penalty a lesson in law

The trial of Zhao Zhihong, a serial killer found guilty of 21 crimes, not only displays China's resolve to promote justice, but also offers a chance for the entire society to better understand the rule of law.

A court in north China on Monday sentenced Zhao to death for crimes including multiple murder, rape, robbery and larceny. Among the convictions was one Zhao was found to have committed in a public toilet in Hohhot in 1996, for which Huugjilt, an innocent man who was 18 years old at the time, was wrongfully executed.

Huugjilt was acquitted after a retrial last year found that the evidence was questionable and inadequate, 18 years after his execution.

Monday's conviction has attracted wide public attention as it is linked to the miscarriage of justice against the teenager in the sense that it was Zhao's confession that brought the wrongful execution to light.

Also, Zhao's guilt supports Huugjilt's innocence.

However, in other aspects, the two cases should be regarded as having no bearing on each other. Huugjilt's acquittal was not based on Zhao's sentence, and the crime of the latter was rightfully proven by valid evidence, not the young man's innocence.

More importantly, against the backdrop of China determining to improve the rule of law, the trial and sentencing of Zhao should not be taken as an act of revenge for Huugjilt's tragic mistreatment.

After all, this is not the end of Huugjilt's case. Those who were responsible for his wrongful conviction should be held accountable, and efforts must be made to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

China's criminal and procedural laws are made not only to punish crime but also to protect innocent people from undeserved penalties.

Furthermore, the legal rights of suspects and convicted criminals, as long as they have not been deprived of them by due process, should also be properly observed.

To that end, procedures regarding both Zhao and other people involved in Huugjilt's case must be conducted with due prudence and in strict accordance with the law.

Even after Zhao's conviction, it should be noted that he still has his right to appeal and his death sentence is still subject to final approval by the Supreme People's Court.

In this sense, Zhao's case has provided the entire society, including the judiciary system, the media and the public, with a chance to understand that justice for everyone, whether innocent or guilty, matters.

It is only with efforts to strictly implement the rule of law and respect the legal rights of everyone, even perpetrators of crime, that members of society can be reassured that no one will be subject to capricious judgement.

That is also the reason why Zhao, despite his despicable motives and cruelty, also deserves a fair trial and justice.