The police published the results of an investigation last month into the death of a farmer who was beaten by urban management officers. An editorial in Beijing News examines the report (excerpts below).

Almost two weeks after Deng Zhengjia was beaten by urban management officers in Chenzhou, Hunan province, the official report was published.

He died, it said, of "external force that caused bleeding in the brain".

Does this mean that the officers who beat him are responsible? Let's have a look at some previous examples.

In 2010, a man pushed and shoved his neighbor during a dispute over mahjong. The neighbor died of a heart attack.

In 2003, another man from Shandong province beat a villager, who died from bleeding in the brain.

The culprits received different sentences as a push was considered non-lethal while a beating was considered an attack of force that had the potential to result in injury or death.

The officers who beat Deng used force, possibly severe violence.

By making the analysis we don't mean to influence the judicial process. We only hope the case alerts more law enforcers never to employ excessive violence.