(XIANG MINGCHAO)

Zhao Zuohai, who spent almost 10 years in jail for alleged murder, has been acquitted after the alleged victim returned home in central China's Henan Province, according to the local Higher People's Court on May 8.

State compensation procedure has started and a probe into the erroneous conviction is under way, a court statement said.

In October 1997, Zhao Zuohai, now 57, and his neighbor Zhao Zhenshang had a fight at their home village, after which Zhao Zhenshang went missing.

In May 1999, a headless and extremely decomposed body was found in the village and it was believed to be Zhao Zhenshang's. Zhao Zuohai was arrested as the murder suspect and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on charges of murdering Zhao Zhenshang in 2002. The sentence was later commuted to 29 years of imprisonment.

But Zhao Zhenshang returned to the village on April 30 after 13 years. The Higher People's Court of Henan Province confirmed Zhao Zhenshang's identity on May 7 and acquitted Zhao Zuohai later.

A spokesman for the local police authorities said an investigation had been launched into Zhao Zuohai's accusations of being forced to confess by police torture.