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| Chinese Communist party officials on trial accused of torturing man to death | Chinese Communist party officials on trial accused of torturing man to death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Lawyers for the family of a Chinese man allegedly tortured to death during an internal Communist party investigation were thrown out of court at the start of the landmark trial of six party officials accused of the crime. | Lawyers for the family of a Chinese man allegedly tortured to death during an internal Communist party investigation were thrown out of court at the start of the landmark trial of six party officials accused of the crime. |
| Yu Qiyi, 42, a chief engineer for a state-owned investment firm in the eastern city of Wenzhou, drowned in April after being dunked repeatedly in a bucket of ice-cold water, state media said last week. | Yu Qiyi, 42, a chief engineer for a state-owned investment firm in the eastern city of Wenzhou, drowned in April after being dunked repeatedly in a bucket of ice-cold water, state media said last week. |
| The accusations have shed light on the secret workings of the party's internal judicial system, which lawyers say is rife with abuse. | The accusations have shed light on the secret workings of the party's internal judicial system, which lawyers say is rife with abuse. |
| The officials – five from the party's corruption watchdog, the central commission for discipline inspection, and a prosecutor – were indicted on charges of intentional infliction of harm leading to death. They face a maximum penalty of death. | The officials – five from the party's corruption watchdog, the central commission for discipline inspection, and a prosecutor – were indicted on charges of intentional infliction of harm leading to death. They face a maximum penalty of death. |
| Their trial opened on Tuesday in Quzhou, a city not far from Wenzhou. The judge refused to allowed Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer representing Yu's family, to question the first defendant, and then threw him and his colleague out of the court. | Their trial opened on Tuesday in Quzhou, a city not far from Wenzhou. The judge refused to allowed Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer representing Yu's family, to question the first defendant, and then threw him and his colleague out of the court. |
| "They've expelled us and not allowed us to ask questions of the defendant, which is our legal right," Pu told Reuters. "We're extremely angry about this." | "They've expelled us and not allowed us to ask questions of the defendant, which is our legal right," Pu told Reuters. "We're extremely angry about this." |
| Pu said the court had also banned the naming of the official who probably ordered the investigation into Yu, saying he could only be referred to as "the leader". | |
| "It's totally over the top," he said. "These six people have simply been picked to take the blame." | "It's totally over the top," he said. "These six people have simply been picked to take the blame." |
| Yu's ex-wife, Wu Qian, who was allowed to remain in court, said the party was trying to protect the real instigators of Yu's death by getting the court to ban questions about who was behind the original investigation. | Yu's ex-wife, Wu Qian, who was allowed to remain in court, said the party was trying to protect the real instigators of Yu's death by getting the court to ban questions about who was behind the original investigation. |
| "They're covering up the truth," Wu told Reuters. | "They're covering up the truth," Wu told Reuters. |
| The court did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. | The court did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. |
| Chi Susheng, a lawyer for Li Xiang, one of the accused, said she was equally angry at the court's behaviour, as her client wanted to use the opportunity to apologise. | Chi Susheng, a lawyer for Li Xiang, one of the accused, said she was equally angry at the court's behaviour, as her client wanted to use the opportunity to apologise. |
| "Li Xiang's evidence is what brought this case to court," Cui told Reuters. "He wants to be able to apologise in court to the family." | "Li Xiang's evidence is what brought this case to court," Cui told Reuters. "He wants to be able to apologise in court to the family." |
| Reuters was not immediately able to locate lawyers for the other five accused. Neither the government nor the party has publicly given an account of what happened. The story has received limited coverage in state-run media. | Reuters was not immediately able to locate lawyers for the other five accused. Neither the government nor the party has publicly given an account of what happened. The story has received limited coverage in state-run media. |
| It is not clear why Yu was being investigated, according to his family's lawyers. Si Weijiang, another lawyer who has advised the family, said it was possibly because of improprieties related to a land deal. | It is not clear why Yu was being investigated, according to his family's lawyers. Si Weijiang, another lawyer who has advised the family, said it was possibly because of improprieties related to a land deal. |
| Yu had spent 38 days under shuanggui, a form of extra-legal detention imposed on party officials being investigated for disciplinary violations. | Yu had spent 38 days under shuanggui, a form of extra-legal detention imposed on party officials being investigated for disciplinary violations. |
| The ousted politician Bo Xilai was subjected to shuanggui for 17 months before facing trial last month on charges of corruption and abuse of power. | The ousted politician Bo Xilai was subjected to shuanggui for 17 months before facing trial last month on charges of corruption and abuse of power. |
| During his trial, Bo recanted an earlier confession to party investigators, saying it had been made under psychological pressure. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks. | During his trial, Bo recanted an earlier confession to party investigators, saying it had been made under psychological pressure. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks. |
| Investigators put Yu's head in a bucket of ice-cold water and held it down repeatedly, eventually causing his death, according to Si. Yu was also beaten and his body scarred by what appeared to be cigarette burns. | Investigators put Yu's head in a bucket of ice-cold water and held it down repeatedly, eventually causing his death, according to Si. Yu was also beaten and his body scarred by what appeared to be cigarette burns. |
| Yu's death comes as China is attempting to tackle corruption. The president, Xi Jinping, has pledged to go after "tigers" and "flies" in the battle against graft, referring to both political heavyweights and low-ranking officials. | |
| Pu said Yu, who was made to strip naked before interrogators dunked his head, struggled and shouted during the questioning session, citing the indictment. | Pu said Yu, who was made to strip naked before interrogators dunked his head, struggled and shouted during the questioning session, citing the indictment. |
| Photographs of Yu taken by family members after his death showed an emaciated man who was "black and blue", Pu said. | Photographs of Yu taken by family members after his death showed an emaciated man who was "black and blue", Pu said. |
| Si said authorities had worked to keep information about the trial under wraps such as preventing lawyers from photocopying evidence and restricting the number of lawyers the family could hire. | Si said authorities had worked to keep information about the trial under wraps such as preventing lawyers from photocopying evidence and restricting the number of lawyers the family could hire. |
| The question of who authorised the harsh treatment of Yu remained largely unanswered, Pu said, adding that the six officials were carrying out orders from the disciplinary commission. | The question of who authorised the harsh treatment of Yu remained largely unanswered, Pu said, adding that the six officials were carrying out orders from the disciplinary commission. |
| "Who approved the use of such torture? The bucket and the ice-cold water were already prepared in that place in advance," Pu said, speaking earlier. "These people have not been investigated yet." | "Who approved the use of such torture? The bucket and the ice-cold water were already prepared in that place in advance," Pu said, speaking earlier. "These people have not been investigated yet." |
| Most Chinese criminal trials are over within days, often after just a single day. The courts rarely acquit defendants in criminal cases. | Most Chinese criminal trials are over within days, often after just a single day. The courts rarely acquit defendants in criminal cases. |
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