(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhu was prosecuted for hiring an attorney to represent other Falun Gong practitioners. She was tried along with seven other practitioners on March 24, 2015.

They were charged with “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement,” a charge that is routinely used by the Communist regime to arbitrarily arrest and imprison practitioners nationwide.

Three defense attorneys pleaded not-guilty on behalf of the practitioners.

The judge ordered the attorneys not express an opinion during the proceedings and to submit everything in writing. When the attorneys refused to comply, the judge repeatedly interrupted their defense presentation.

Defense attorney Li stated that hiring an attorney is a constitutional right. He demanded that the court present the law that Ms. Zhu was said to have violated. The judge did not respond.

Attorney Mao said, “Ms. Zhu was tortured when she was interrogated, and five of her teeth were knocked out; three others were loosened.”

Ms. Zhu testified and identified 610 Office chief Gao Wei in the gallery and two other officers who physically attacked her. The judge didn't respond to her testimony.

The Shiyan City 610 Office dispatched a large number of police and plainclothes officers to surround the courthouse. Only family members were allowed to attend the hearing, with 610 Office personnel sitting next to them.

The other seven Falun Gong practitioners tried at the same time were: Wang Dongmei, Zhao Jiali, Zeng Hairong, Xiong Yuqin, Wang Yue, Tang Rongying, and He Zhihong.

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