On October 16, 2024, the official WeChat account of the Henan Provincial High Court announced that on October 11, the court’s deputy head and presiding judge, Guo Baozheng, oversaw a significant and complex criminal case during its appeals phase at the Pingdingshan Intermediate Court. This case involves five appellants—identified only as Tian and others—who were implicated in six separate instances of intentional homicide and robbery, spanning multiple provinces including Henan, Sichuan, and Chongqing. Tragically, the crimes resulted in the deaths of six victims, three of whom were dismembered and disposed of. Notably, these events occurred over twenty years ago. In the first trial, three defendants received death sentences, one was given a two-year suspended death sentence with restricted commutation, and one received a life sentence. The appellants raised over 20 objections concerning evidence acceptance, fact determination, legal application, and sentencing during the appeal.
Following the case’s elevation to the provincial court, Deputy Chief Justice Guo Baozheng and his panel closely reviewed the case files and conducted an in-depth analysis of the evidence, facts at hand, and pertinent legal issues. They clarified their approach to the trial, established key points of focus, and prepared a detailed trial outline. Utilizing an online document review system, they facilitated an exchange of evidence between both parties before the trial and sought input on jurisdiction, recusal, and presentation methods.
During the appeal proceedings, presiding judge Guo led thorough inquiries into various aspects of the case, including the identities of the victims, the timeline of the incidents, and the involvement of each appellant in the alleged crimes. The panel conducted additional questioning as necessary to uncover the facts. They organized a grouping of evidence concerning the six acknowledged criminal acts, focusing on parts of the evidence contested by the appellants and new evidence obtained during the appeal phase. The court allowed ample time for both sides to present their perspectives on the evidence and rebuttals.
In the debate phase, after the initial arguments from both the prosecution and defense, Judge Guo summarized six key points of contention surrounding the case, including clarity regarding the six criminal acts, the accuracy of convictions, the acceptance of disputed evidence, the roles of the appellants in the collective crime, and questions of whether certain defendants acted under duress or demonstrated significant cooperation. He sought further input from both sides to facilitate a comprehensive discussion around these pivotal issues. During the final statements made by the appellants, Judge Guo guided them to reflect on their actions and share their requests with the court.
Post-trial feedback from defense attorneys indicated that the proceedings effectively protected the litigation rights of the appellants and were conducted in a manner that was orderly and appropriate, achieving a positive outcome. The trial commenced at 9 AM and concluded around 6:30 PM, successfully fulfilling its objectives. Given the complexity and significance of the case, a decision will be rendered at a future date.
