(Minghui.org) Two defense lawyers for Falun Gong practitioners were not notified by the Zhuozhou City Court, in Hebei Province of a trial held on December 25, 2014. The court nonetheless proceeded with the trial—a violation of Chinese law, which specifies that a trial cannot be held without the defense lawyer.
This session was the second trial, following the first on July 31. Compared to the previous trial, more public security and 610 Office staff were stationed outside of the courthouse. Police officer Yang Yugang (杨玉刚), who arrested the practitioners being tried, videotaped pedestrians in the area.
Practitioners Dong Hanjie (董汉杰) and Zhang Haiyang (张海洋) were tried with their lawyers absent. The other four practitioners in the trial were Ms. Gao Chunlian (高春莲), Mr. Wang Yun (王云), Mr. Ge Zhijun (葛志军), and Ms. Dong Junhong (董俊红).
Attorneys Zhang Junjie (张俊杰) and Hu Guiyun (胡贵云) attended the trial. They pointed out that the procedure of police adding new evidence to the case violates the law—the Procuratorate is required to drop and return the case to the police before they can add evidence. Judge Pei Yan replied that any issues regarding the procedures would be handled after the trial.
In her defense statement, Ms. Gao Chunlian pointed out that there has never been any legal basis for the persecution. The judge kept interrupting Ms. Gao, and then told the bailiffs to take her out of the courtroom.
Mr. Dong Hanjie also defended himself. He stated that practicing Falun Gong is simply exercising one's freedom of belief, as granted by the Chinese Constitution. He also pointed out that Falun Gong teaches people to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
The trial lasted less than an hour. The judge hurriedly adjourned it without issuing a verdict.
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