Tang Dagang, director of the Vehicle Emission Control Center, a policy research group also affiliated with the ministry, said pressure increased last year to tighten diesel fuel standards after the State Council, or cabinet, announced stricter air-quality rules.
But one expert said any claim would be complicated by the variations in water quality and the lack of a contamination finding from stateor federal agencies.
And Zimmerman will almost certainly get a high quality defense, paid for either by himself and his supporters or by the state of Florida, which will want to ensure the appearance of fairness on a case in the spotlight.