NEWS RELEASE
The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc.
NEW TRIAL ORDERED FOR SOUTH CHINA CHURCH 17 Court gives defense only one day to prepare
A Chinese court has thrown out the criminal conviction of 17 members of the unregistered South China Church. The Supreme Court of Hubei Province has ordered a new trial for the Christians, including Pastor Gong Shengliang and journalist Li Ying. Both are among five SCC members sentenced to death for their involvement in illegal church activities. Twelve others received sentences ranging from two years to life.
The Provincial Court said the facts in the trial against the South China Church members were ambiguous and the evidence inadequate. The court went on to say the procedures in the civil trial that led to conviction were illegal. The court has sent the case back to the Jingmen City Intermediate People’s Court for retrial on October 9th, 2002.
“While we applaud the court’s ruling, we are extremely concerned that the case is being sent back to the same court that allowed the ambiguous evidence and illegal procedures the first time around,” said VOM spokesman Gary Lane. “These Christians have received inhumane and horrendous treatment while in prison and instead of retrial, the 17 defendants should be freed.”
While the Hubei Provincial Supreme Court handed down its decision September 22nd, SCC lawyers did not receive notice of the verdict and the date for the new trial until September 30th. October 1st through the 7th is a national holiday period in China and all government offices are closed.
“This means the defense lawyers will in effect only have one full day to prepare for this retrial,” said Lane. “We ask the Bush administration and members of Congress to contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington to demand the release of these innocent Christians, or at the very least more time to prepare their defense for retrial.”
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