Confusion persists as trial continues in rape-murder case(2)

Zhu pointed out several flaws in the evidence provided by the prosecutor. Only one signature was found on the autopsy report instead of two and the colored shirt was presented in the form of a photo instead of an actual object, he said.

Zhu also appealed to the court to give more lenient punishment for Wang in consideration of his voluntary confession.

Law experts agreed that it would be hard to confirm Wang as the murderer in the 1994 case, as the only strong evidence is his confession.

"The court should not decide that Wang is the murderer in the Nie Shubin case, as it is farfetched to make a verdict based only on his confession," said Liu Bojin, attorney agent in the Nie Shubin case.

"The case happened in 1994 and enormous changes have taken place since then," said Zhang Jinlong, a lawyer in Shijiazhuang.

"The standard of evidence has not been exactly the same over 19 years. It's hard to clarify the things they have debated in court," said Zhang.

Some local residents who attended Wednesday's trial expressed hope that Wang's verdict will bring out the truth.

Nie's relatives asked for a retrial many years ago, but never received a definite reply from authorities.

In Wang's first trial held in March 2007, he was sentenced to death in three rape and murder cases. But Wang filed an appeal with the court because the prosecutor did not pursue the fourth rape and murder case, which Nie had already been executed for.

The Higher People's Court of Hebei Province held a second trial for Wang's fourth case that year. There was no verdict in the second trial, which resumed on June 25 this year and was adjourned.

Nie's mother, 68-year-old Zhang Huanzhi, said she did not care if Wang is the murderer or not, as she is convinced that her son was not responsible.

"I want to go home first," she said when asked what her future plans are.