(Minghui.org) A higher court in Dezhou City recently ruled to uphold the conviction of a local woman who had been sentenced for telling people about the Chinese communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Ms. Wang Yanzhi, 60, was arrested at home on May 22, 2016, after being reported for distributing Falun Gong materials the day before.
The local detention center twice declined Ms. Wang’s lawyer’s request to meet with her. The local court appointed a lawyer, who was instructed to enter a guilty plea on her behalf. Ms. Wang objected. She was forcibly carried to the courthouse on November 22 to face trial. Her chest was severely injured during her struggle.
Ms. Wang had to be rushed to the emergency room three days after her court appearance. She was diagnosed with heart disease, inflammation of both lungs, pleurisy in both lungs, and cardiac anxiety disorder.
The court rejected the detention center’s request for medical parole and sentenced Ms. Wang to four years in prison on December 8.
Ms. Wang’s own lawyer submitted an appeal on her behalf and requested an open hearing. The Dezhou City Intermediate Court, however, issued a decision in April this year without conducting any further investigation or holding a hearing.
The ruling to uphold the guilty verdict was delivered to Ms. Wang in the detention center on April 18, 2017. When her lawyer met with her the next day, she said she intended to keep fighting to prove her innocence.
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http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2017/4/26/山东德州王彦芝二审被维持冤判-346204.html