Rape trial of PLA singer's son Li Tianyi prompts online dispute
Teenager's high-profile case sparks debate about freedom of speech, privacy and parental responsibilities
The teenage son of a prominent PLA singer remains in the media spotlight after he was charged earlier this month with taking part in a gang rape.
Li Tianyi - also known as Li Guanfeng - is among five men accused of assaulting a drunken woman in a Beijing hotel on February 17, according to Xinhua. His trial began in a Haidian district court on Friday.
Li's father Li Shuangjiang , 74, is a top official at the People's Liberation Army Art Academy with a non-command rank equivalent of major-general. Li's mother, Meng Ge, is also a well-known PLA singer.
Brought up in a wealthy artistic family, Li Tianyi , 17, has been offered many opportunities to perform on stage since he was very young, often with his parents. His father never spared a compliment when talking about his son. But a spoiled child can make trouble for his parents when he grows up.
First, Li's pictures with luxury cars began to spread on the internet. In 2011, he was sentenced to a year for juvenile delinquency after he and a friend beat up a couple near his Beijing home. At the time, Li was driving an unregistered, souped-up BMW and had a minor collision with the couple's car. After attacking the couple, he reportedly dared stunned onlookers to call the police.
The circumstances surrounding Li's current case have been even more intriguing. State media have reported that Li's parents tried and failed to make a private settlement with the victim. His family were also forced to hire a new legal team after their original lawyers quit due to "the complexity of the case and high demands of Li's mother", according to the Securities Times.
Earlier this month, Chen Shu, one of Li's two new defence lawyers, announced that Li would plead not guilty. Chen also accused the police and some media companies of violating Li's privacy by publishing his name and picture. The statements sparked much criticism as many people viewed Li's attempt to argue his innocence unacceptable. The lawyers' website was subsequently hacked by angry internet users.