China Replace Gun Executions With Lethal Jabs

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Gunshot executions are being replaced with "more humane" lethal injections in Beijing.

Five thousand condemned prisoners are expected to be put to death by an armed officer in China this year - but no longer in the capital city.

Hu Yunteng, research director of the People's Supreme Court, said injections are considered safer.

"Lethal injection is considered more humane as it reduces criminals' fear and pain compared with a gunshot execution," he said.

The Beijing Municipal People's Court is training police and medical staff how to administer the lethal doses.

Many of the executions will take place in purpose-built execution vans. The prisoner is strapped to a stretcher and put to death by injection. The sentence is carried out in private.

The vans costs $60,000 (£37,000) but can be driven to courts across the country according to need.

At present the lethal injection policy is limited to Beijing, but could be extended nationwide.

Human rights activists believe there is dual purpose for the use of the execution vans.

The jabs would end public executions that have done little to counter international opposition to China's frequent use of capital punishment.

They would also give the authorities the opportunity to harvest organs of executed prisoners to supply the insatiable demand from the country's growing market for organ transplant.

Amnesty International has opposed the introduction of the lethal injection policy and calls for a blanket ban on the death penalty in China.

The Chinese government has amended legislation in 2007, before the Olympics, to ensure all death sentences are reviewed by the Supreme People's Court.