Lawyer for JD.com founder Richard Liu blasts Reuters for ‘one-sided’ report on rape case
- Jill Brisbois reiterates Liu’s innocence and says he will remain silent out of respect for judicial process
The lawyer for JD.com founder Richard Liu Qiandong has slammed Reuters for its “one-sided” and “inaccurate” report on Liu’s rape case, calling its publication of witnesses names “reckless”.
“[Reuters] jeopardises the integrity of the investigation and amounts to trying a case in the media before that investigation has concluded, and well before my client has even been charged with a crime,” Jill Brisbois, a US-based lawyer representing Liu, said in an email response to a request for comment on the Reuters story. “In so doing, Reuters continues to report a one-sided and inaccurate version of events.”
She reiterated Liu’s innocence and said that Liu will remain silent out of respect for the judicial process.
"We stand by our story, which is consistent with our commitment to accurate and independent journalism, under the Reuters Trust Principles", Reuters said in an email response.
Liu has been accused of raping a 21-year-old student at the University of Minnesota in her home. He denies the allegations.
No charges have been filed but if charged and convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.