(Minghui.org) At the trial of a married couple from Huludao City, Liaoning Province, on November 20 this year, their lawyer pleaded not guilty on their behalf and offered a rebuttal to the charge against them, “Using a cult organization to sabotage law enforcement.”
Mr. Lan Zhixue pointed out that there is no law designating Falun Gong as a cult, and that it is his clients' constitutional right to believe in Falun Gong and to let the public know of its benefits.
Court president Cai Haoying was visibly taken aback at Mr. Lan's not-guilty plea, and she challenged him, “Are you sure that your arguments can hold up?”
Mr. Lan reiterated the validity of his defense arguments and went on to question her, “According to the law, citizens should be allowed to attend public hearings, but why are there so many empty seats in such a big courtroom? Why isn't the family allowed to come in?”
She did not know how to answer. As a matter of fact, only two relatives of Mr. Sun Shuzhong (孙树忠) and Ms. Han Sujuan (韩素娟) were allowed inside to hear the trial. All the other spectators were local 610 Office staff and police and court officials.
Public prosecutor Dong Cheng alleged that the confiscated items, including a personal computer and Falun Gong books, were evidence that the couple were trying to sabotage law enforcement with a cult organization.
Mr. Lan argued that it was his clients' right to possess items related to their belief in Falun Gong. As such, none of the items confiscated during the illegal arrest should be regarded as evidence of a crime.
During the trial, presiding judge Chen Zhiwei interrupted Mr. Lan many times for no valid reason. He promised to pick a second trial date before adjourning the session.
Trial Goes On Despite Wife's Fainting Episode
Mr. Sun and Ms. Han were arrested on April 9, 2014, when local police officers and community center workers tricked them into opening the door by claiming to be checking household registrations.
The police ransacked the couple's home and confiscated their cash, computer, and other personal belongings.
Longgang District Court in Huludao City scheduled the couple's trial for November 20, seven months later. Ms. Han Sujuan fainted when she got out of the police car at the courthouse.
An ambulance took her to Longgang District Hospital. When the doctors indicated there was nothing seriously wrong with her, the police brought her straight back to the courtroom.
The trial was delayed for about 30 minutes and lasted more than an hour and a half.
Relatives Meet with Obstacles in Quest to Attend Hearing
Only two of Ms. Sun Shuzhong's relatives were allowed to attend the hearing. Everyone else was ordered outside the courthouse doors.
Prior to the trial, when Mr. Sun Shuzhong's relatives and others went to pick up a permit to attend the proceedings, Chen Zhiwei and the police refused to give them out. When people asked why they couldn't attend a public hearing, the police gave no clear or legitimate answer.
One officer said it wasn't a public hearing; another one said it was none of their business; and still another said their supervisor had made the decision. Finally the police said that court president Cao Haiying was the decision maker, but that she was on a business trip. Actually, she was in the courthouse.
After much effort, Mr. Sun's relatives were finally allowed to talk directly to the person responsible for the hearing permits. That officer, however, foisted them off on presiding judge Chen Zhiwei, who told them to meet him on the first floor. When Mr. Sun's relatives went see Chen Zhiwei, police stopped them in the hallway.
When Mr. Sun's relatives asked the officials why no notice about the trial was posted on the bulletin board, the police said it was none of their business. The court staff said they had never posted notices about trials on the bulletin board. They also said there was no limit on the number of spectators in other cases. However, the number of spectators was strictly limited in Falun Gong cases, and the police were called out in force for those trials.
The proceedings ended at noon. When Mr. Sun Shuzhong and Ms. Han Sujuan were taken to the police car, bystanders shouted, “Falun Dafa is good!”
