(Minghui.org) Two Beijing residents were tried on December 26 for spreading information about Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Ms. Sun Jinxia and Ms. Ma Zhenmin were arrested on August 10 while distributing Falun Gong materials. They turned down their respective court-appointed lawyers, who were instructed to enter a guilty plea for them.

They then hired Mr. Yu Wensheng, who defended their constitutional right to freedom of belief and freedom of the press. Mr. Yu emphasized that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that the persecution has lacked legal basis from the onset.

The indictment stated that the arresting officers showed a warrant bearing the two defendants’ names. Mr. Yu questioned how the police knew his clients’ names prior to making the arrests, and prosecutor Zhou Qin had no answer. Mr. Yu also pointed out that his clients told him the police showed nothing to them during the arrests.

Zhou said there was a tipster who reported Ms. Sun and Ms. Ma to police, but the said witness was nowhere to be found in court to face cross examination.

Zhou also used Falun Gong materials confiscated from Ms. Sun’s home as evidence against her. Mr. Yu argued that those items were Ms. Sun’s lawful possessions and caused no harm to anyone.

Ms. Sun and Ms. Ma also testified in their own defense and demanded an acquittal.

The presiding judge, Li Xiao, adjourned the session without issuing a verdict.