(Minghui.org) A 52-year-old woman from Changchun City, Jilin Province, was recently sentenced to four years following her arrest from home on August 6, 2014.
The courthouse was heavily guarded, and no spectators were allowed to attend the trial, not even family members of the defendant, Ms. Zhang Yuxia (张玉霞). Even though her relatives had hired a lawyer on her behalf, Gongzhuling City Court officials claimed this was a “special case” and prevented the lawyer from reviewing her case, let alone defending her in court.
Why did the local authorities mobilize so many armed police officers? What were they afraid of?
According to Ms. Zhang's family, the authorities wanted to cover up a crime committed by the police that involved Ms. Zhang and her fellow Falun Gong practitioners about three years ago.
Ms. Zhang and four other local residents were distributing Shen Yun DVDs on June 5, 2011, when they were reported to the police. During the police chase, Mr. Feng Kui (冯奎) was shot in the head by officer Zhang Zhengpeng and lost consciousness.
Less than six months later, Mr. Feng was given a life sentence; his wife, Ms. Song Xiwei, and Mr. Zhao Baoshan (赵宝山) were each given five years; and Mr. Yang Bin (杨斌) was given three years.
The police issued a nationwide warrant for the arrest of Ms. Zhang, who managed to escape during the chase.
Ms. Zhang returned to her hometown after moving from place to place for three years. She intended to grow and sell vegetables to make a living, but was seized from home even before she had a chance to sell all her first harvest.
Agents from Gongzhuling City Domestic Security Division were responsible for Ms. Zhang's arrest on August 6. They took her immediately to Siping Detention Center.
Ms. Zhang’s family went to Gongzhuling City Domestic Security Division and the Procuratorate multiple times, demanding her release, but they were harassed and threatened by the deputy head of the division, Xu Zhiwei (徐志伟).
He Rui (何瑞) from the Procuratorate also did his part to cause trouble for the family. Claiming Ms. Zhang's case was “very special,” he prohibited the lawyer from reviewing the case files and from formally representing Ms. Zhang.
It became clear to the family that the authorities sentenced Ms. Zhang, the last witness to the police chase, to prison so no one else would hear about or publicize the details of the shooting.
Ms. Zhang saw her ailments disappear not long after she started practicing Falun Gong on March 24, 1999. Two weeks after she read Zhuan Falun for the first time, she no longer needed to wear glasses for nearsightedness. Her family cannot understand why this innocent person will have to spend time in prison.
Related articles:Police Shoot Practitioner Mr. Feng Kui from ChangchunMr. Feng Kui Sentenced to Life in Prison after Being Shot
