Judge in Leshan City, Sichuan Province Impedes Practitioner's Defence

On December 9th, 2009, the husband of Ms. Wang Shanzhu, a practitioner in Leshan City, Sichuan Province, hired human rights lawyer Mr. Liang Xiaojun in Beijing to defend his wife. The residing judge Lei Zhijun said, "We already tried Ms. Wang on August, 18th." Lawyer Mr. Liang asked the judge, "Why was the family not informed of the trial?" Lei replied, "Notice was sent to their home." But no one, including Ms. Wang's husband knew anything about the trial notice. The court did not bother to inform the family, and the court also barred the family from visiting her.

Lei Zhijun refused to meet Mr. Liang. A few months prior to hiring the defence lawyer, Ms. Wang's husband attempted to talk to Lei a few times, but was stonewalled. On one occasion he saw Lei, and Lei said to him, "I have nothing to say to your family." Then he was driven away.

Lawyer Mr. Liang asked Lei, "Why didn't you inform the family about the trial?" Lei said, "Is there a rule that requires me to inform the family? Why should I?" The lawyer replied, "Which rule specified that the family should not be informed?" Lei didn't say anything.

On December 9th, Ms. Wang's husband went to the court to pick up the court decision document. He was told there was no court decision. The court obviously broke the law because according to the published procedure, a decision must be declared within a month after a trial. Since no court decision was made, a new trial must be granted and the lawyer can represent her in the court.

Ms. Wang was arrested on May 5th, 2009, after the police searched her home. The participants of this raid included Mao Jiaxin, Li Juan, Huang Jian, Li Jun, Huang Ying. The police confiscated one notebook, and 600 to 700 blank CDs.

Lei Zhijun, trial court judge, 86-13981376699 (Mobile), 86-833-2422703

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/12/12/214270.html