Gang-rape defendant’s family to request open trial

The family of a teenaged defendant in a highly anticipated gang-rape case will ask the court for an open trial, their legal consultant said on Sunday.

“To ensure a transparent and fair trial, I am asking the court, on behalf of the defendant’s mother, for an open trial. So that all evidence, facts and details of the investigation can be made available to the public,” read an open letter published on China’s microblog service Sina Weibo on Sunday.

The letter was signed by Meng Ge, mother of Li Guanfeng. The post also said that the application would be submitted to the court in a few days.

Li, 17, who was formerly known as Li Tianyi, is the son of PLA singers Li Shuangjiang and Meng Ge. He stands accused of gang-raping a woman along with four others in a Beijing hotel in February.

Two years ago, Li Guangfeng, then aged 15, hit a car while driving without a licence. He then assaulted a couple in the other car and warned onlookers against reporting the incident to the police. He was sentenced to a year at a reform centre for juvenile delinquents and was only released a few months before the alleged gang rape.

The closely watched case has seen many voice concerns that the teenager’s celebrity parents would attempt to influence the trial in their son’s favour.