Defense Attorney Blues

From the very start, defense lawyers who participated in the Chongqing organized crime trials had to confront official roadblocks.

To the lawyers' surprise, local authorities shared only certain relevant legal documents. The court had claimed all documents were handed over by procurators, recalled Zhu Mingyong, a Beijing lawyer.

Moreover, the defense lawyers quickly learned that meetings with their clients would be held with police surveillance, since the police were responsible for helping procurators win convictions. 

Li put up a fierce fight against police interference. Police officials were not pleased, even though their stubbornness eventually forced Li to give up.

To prepare for his client's trial, Li met suspect Gong Gangmo in late November and early December. He formed a legal academic group in Beijing whose members signed an expert opinion saying photocopied documents provided by the court failed to prove that Gong was an organized crime leader or murder accomplice, as accused.

Li met officials of Chongqing's No.1 Intermediary Court on December 2, and leveled claims that Gong had been tortured during a police investigations, and that his meetings with Gong had been "abnormal," suggesting he knew about the police surveillance.

A source close to the court said Li's discussion with judicial officials was rocky. It was decided that the case was ready for trial based on "sufficient evidence" and "completed procedures," and Li was asked to help speed the trial.

"The trial date had been set, all preparations were done," the source said. "Even box lunches had been ordered."

Li refused. "If I cooperate" in preparing for a speedy trial "my client might lose his life," he told court officials.

(Translated by LX)