China has made various efforts to limit the death penalty use over recent years. From Jan. 1, 2007, the Supreme People's Court restarted reviewing before approving all death penalty cases to make sure decisions by lower courts are accurate, after media exposed a series of errors in determining such cases since 2005.

While limiting the crimes that carry the death penalty, the draft amendment provides stricter sentence reduction rules for those given the death penalty with a reprieve.

JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH MERCY

The draft amendment shows leniency to the offenders aged below 18 or above 75.

The draft amendment states that the death penalty is not to be applied to persons aged 75 or above at the time the crime is committed.

Previously, only those aged under 18 at the time the crime is committed and women pregnant at the time of the hearing were exempt from capital punishment.

According to the draft amendment, a person who has reached the age of 75 and commits a crime could be given a mitigated punishment.