Li Tianyi (L) and his fater Li Shuangjiang [File photo] |
Meng Ge, an army singer and the mother of Li Tianyi, attended the pre-trial conference held in the Haidian District Court, where she refused to talk to the media. Both sides' attorneys and the prosecutors also attended the pre-trial.
17-year-old Li Tianyi is accused, along with four others, of raping a girl in a Beijing hotel in February. His lawyer said that Li would plead not guilty.
Both sides remained tight-lipped after the conference yesterday but Lan He, a legal consultant for Li's family, posted a blog saying that the defense attorneys have asked the court to investigate the suspected criminal wrongdoings of organized prostitution and extortion, which the court agreed to.
Lan denied several Internet rumors including the suspension of Li Tianyi's parents from their jobs. He said that if the prostitution and extortion rumors were verified, "some relevant people" wouldn't be able to escape the justice.
"No worries, it has just begun, " he added.
Outside the court, Lan also revealed that the alleged victim Ms. Yang is seeking at least 500,000 yuan for emotional distress. The amount is the same amount claimed to be extortion money by sources close to the Li family.
Using the press and court of public opinions instead of court of laws, sources close to both sides and lawyers have notoriously fought during the past weeks, accusing each other of doing something horrible without giving too many evidence and details.
Sources close to Li's family told the press that someone tried to extort the family of 500,000 yuan by sending a text before reporting the rape to the police.
"The thing is serious and outrageous, we contact you as a responsible party for the last time, please call us back as soon as possible, or we will not wait until the afternoon, we will go to the authorities and the media," said the text. Sources say that the person asked for money on the phone, not in the text.
However, the defense attorneys didn't turn over the texts as evidence in court, said Tian Canjun, who is the lawyer for the alleged victim Ms. Yang.
"Ms. Yang is now receiving psychological treatment in Beijing," said Tian. "We are ready to file a civil suit against Li and his family with the help of the evidences to be presented by the prosecution."
He added, "Li's family has not yet apologized to Ms. Yang," he said.
Ms. Yang being a prostitute was also denied by Tian.
"She's a white collar. Her company is near the bar, so she occasionally goes there to drink when she is stressed," he said. "That night, she went alone. "
He added, "Ms. Yang never sent a text to anybody, and she never asked for money."
Sunglasses-covered Meng Ge, mother of Li Tianyi, a PLA singer's son charged with gang rape, left the Haidian District Court in Beijing on Monday. Li Tianyi didn't show up. Li Tianyi, the 17-year-old son of Li Shuangjiang, a famous singer in the People's Liberation Army, is accused along with four others of raping a girl at a hotel in Beijing in February. His lawyer insisted that Li pleaded not guilty. (Photo Source: ent.sina.com) |
"She works for a Internet company nearby," said the general manager of the bar "We don't have any hostess in our bar."
Two lawyers -- Chen Shu and Wang Ran -- now represent the suspect. His former lawyer Xue Zhenyuan quit last month but declined to give a specific reason.
Li Tianyi's father Li Shuangjiang, who is known for his rendition of patriotic songs, is a singer and the dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts.
Li Tianyi, however, has created controversies in recent years due to his unruly behavior, provoking public anger.
Two years ago, Li Tianyi and another teenager attacked a couple, which allegedly blocked the driveway near the entrance of a residential community in Beijing. He was later sent to a government correctional facility for a year.