(Minghui.org) Four Falun Dafa practitioners were tried by the Zhanqian District Court in Yingkou City in mid-February. Ms. Li Xiufen, 63, was tried on the morning of February 14, 2017. Mr. Fan Xuebin, 45, was tried in the afternoon. Ms. Bai Yuyue, 65, and Ms. Liu Yuzuo, 54, were tried on the following morning.
The four practitioners, along with four other practitioners, were arrested separately on the morning of June 28, 2016.
It was reported that on the morning of June 28 last year, officers from various police stations across Liaoning Province followed, tracked down the locations of, staked out, and arrested over 100 practitioners, under an order issued by the Liaoning Province 610 Office.
Ms. Li Xiufen's family and friends arrived at the court at 9 a.m. on February 14, 2017. Their identity cards were checked electronically. They were ordered to walk along a certain path, maintaining a certain distance from the others. Otherwise none of them would be allowed to enter the courtroom.
Ms. Li's family hired a lawyer to defend her. The lawyer entered a not guilty plea and pointed out, “My client has broken no laws by practicing Falun Dafa. Not a single activity listed in the charges brought up by the prosecutor is a crime. She should be released immediately.”
The court adjourned around 10:00 a.m.
Mr. Fan Xuebin was tried that afternoon. The same defense lawyer pleaded not guilty for him. Mr. Fan had previously been given an eight-year prison term in 2007 for practicing Falun Dafa.
Ms. Bai Yuyue and Ms. Liu Yuzuo were tried the next morning. Ms. Bai's family was not notified of the trial and they had not hired a lawyer. Ms. Bai was tried first. The prosecutors tried to force her to reveal who supplied the Falun Dafa materials that were at her place, where they came from, and who else was involved in handling them.
When the prosecutors asked Ms. Liu questions, she answered calmly, “Falun Dafa teaches people to be good. I have greatly benefited from Falun Dafa, and I will not stop practicing it.”
When Ms. Liu asked the prosecutors and officials not to act against their consciences, she was stopped.
Ms. Liu's husband was in the audience. He raised his hand and said that he wanted to say something. The presiding judge did not allow him to speak.
Ms. Liu’s husband said loudly, “In such a formal court, you are preventing people from presenting well reasoned arguments.”
When he insisted on giving his views, he was dragged out of the courtroom by two bailiffs.
