On Sunday, June 17th, 2007, the Miyi County Court held a trial to prosecute practitioners Ms. Lu Tao, Ms. Zhang Hongying, and Ms. Zhang Jiashuang. The court didn't notify the families about the trial. When the families asked the presiding judge, Zhou Kaiqiong (female), "Why weren't we informed?" The judge answered, "We do not notify families. You can come if you know about it. And if you don't, so be it."
The judge asked the practitioners if the charges read were true. Ms. Lu said that she distributed the leaflets exposing the persecution in order to dispel the state propaganda attacking the practice. Ms. Zhang said, "The truth about Falun Gong is to inspire people to develop kind hearts. It is not about guns or nuclear weapons." The judge didn't know what to say. The prosecution immediately called for a recess thirty minutes into the session.
On July 11th, 2007, the court conducted another session to try the three practitioners. The practitioners rejected the charges. Ms. Zhang Hongying said, "I distribute leaflets exposing the persecution because I want to awaken people's consciences before disaster strikes." Ms. Lu Tao said, "Falun Gong teaches people to be truthful, compassionate, and tolerant. I used to suffer from tuberculosis and my health was restored after I began practising Falun Gong. I was promoted three years in a row at work."
Ms. Zhang Hongying's mother, Ms. Gao Rongying, raised her hand for permission to speak, but permission was denied. She stood up and held out her left arm so that people in the court could see the stitches on her arm. In November 2006, Chengguan police officers searched her home. They beat her and broke her arm to force her to confess.
The evidence presented by the judge was false. The practitioners denied any wrongdoing so a recess was called to end the trial. A month later, the court secretly sentenced Ms. Lu Tao to five years, Ms. Zhang Hongying to four and a half years, and Ms. Zhang Jiashuang to three and a half years of imprisonment.
Persons in Charge of this Case:
Zhou Kaiqiong, Criminal Court deputy chief: 86-812-8171749 (Office)
Zhu Zhengfu, deputy chief of Prosecution Office: 86-812-8177937 (Office)
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/7/24/159479.html
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