(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Xie Yan was deprived of the right of an accused to defend himself by the judge from Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate Court during his second trial in early 2014, without any explanation.

The judge decided not to open the second trial to the public and upheld the original verdict by a judge from the Jiading District Court.

Mr. Xie was illegally arrested on February 20, 2013, by officers from the Jiading District Domestic Security Division in Shanghai and was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2013.

Mr. Xie's father was threatened by local police after he was arrested. He became very ill and died.

Mr. Xie's brother developed a mental disorder because of his fear of police and also passed away.

Local officials continue to harass his mother who is the only one left in the family.