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China police officers stand trial for juvenile death in custody

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-24 09:54

SHANGNAN, Shaanxi: Five police officers will stand trial at a northwest China court Tuesday for the death of a 19-year-old student in custody in March, local authorities said.

The five suspects were all officials of the Public Security Department in Danfeng County of Shaanxi Province, including former department head Yan Yaofeng, anti-graft official Wang Qingbao, police chief Zhao Shuo and police officers Jia Yangang and Li Hongwei, the People's Court of Shangnan County said on its website.

The court will hear the case on Tuesday.

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The five were accused of torturing Xu Gengrong, a high school student from Danfeng County, to death in police custody on March 8, it said.

Xu died in hospital, half an hour after suddenly falling ill while under arrest for murder. Police said he had "suddenly shown symptoms, including his face turning yellow, a weak pulse and dribbling at the mouth".

Police said Xu, who had been in custody since February 28, confessed to the murder of a schoolgirl.

All the five suspects were removed from posts after Xu's death. Prosecutors also accused them of power abuse and negligence of duty.