THE CASE OF NIE SHUBIN, A 21-YEAR-OLD MAN who was sentenced to death and executed in 1995 for the rape and murder of a woman, first aroused doubts in 2005 when another man admitted that he, not Nie, had committed the crime. Reports show Nie might have confessed to the crime under torture. Shandong provincial people's high court, which is reviewing the case, held an open hearing on Monday to decide whether to retry the case. Comments:

The Shandong court has taken a big step toward judicial transparency by holding an open hearing. When the family and lawyers appealing for justice for a person possibly wrongly executed for a crime stand face to face with the officials who sentenced him to death, the public knows there is no longer any place to hide wrong deeds. Only with ample transparency can the courts gain the public's trust.

Beijing News, April 29