死刑程序的正当化

Procedural Validity of a Death Penalty

死刑程序正当化的要求应高于非死刑案件,主要表现在对死刑的适用应有更严格的程序,对于面对死刑的人应赋予更多的诉讼权利。《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》以及《关于保护死刑犯权利的保障措施》从审判程序、诉讼权利、证明标准等方面确立了死刑案件程序正当化的最低标准。参照这一标准,并针对我国有关死刑程序的立法与司法现状,应采取相应的改革措施,即死刑案件的审理程序可分为定罪程序和量刑程序,应完善死刑复核程序和执行程序,应区分死刑案件和非死刑案件的证明标准,还要加强面对死刑的人强制辩护权的保护。

The requirement of the procedural validity of a death penalty is harsher than that of other criminal sanctions. So a more rigorous procedure is required to impose a death sentence and the condemned criminal is given more rights to plead. In view of the trial procedure, access to justice and standards of proof, the Civil Rights and Political Rights International Convention and the Measures for Protection of the Rights of Prisoners Condemned to the Death Penalty have prescribed the minimum standards of procedural validity of a death penalty. In reference to the standards and in respect of China’s legislations relevant to the death penalty and existing judicial system, some reform should be effected to separate the procedure into conviction and sentence. The judicial review and execution procedures should also be improved. Further, we should distinguish the criteria to prove whether it is a death crime and reinforce the protection of the rights of a condemned criminal.