(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Deng Cuiping, Ms. Li Qiongzhen, Ms. Pu Zhiming, Ms. Li Li and Ms. Qing Liyuan were tried by the Ershan County Court on February 16, 2017.

Ms. Deng was sentenced to six years in prison; Ms. Li Qiongzhen to four years in prison; and Ms. Pu to three years, with five years probation.

Ms. Li Li and Ms. Qing were not sentenced.

The trial started at 9 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

Ms. Li Qiongzhen's lawyer, Wen Haidong, questioned judge Bai Weiliang for going to the detention center to pressure Ms. Li into admitting guilt, and coercing her to dismiss her lawyer. The lawyer and judge argued intensely, forcing the court to recess twice.

The lawyer said that there is no law in China that states that practicing Falun Gong is illegal.

The practitioners were charged with “obstructing justice,” a boilerplate charge leveled at Falun Gong practitioners. Ms. Deng's lawyer Sun Dianjun pointed out that Ms. Deng did nothing to obstruct justice, and that the prosecutor's charges were inconsistent with the practitioner's activities.

Ms. Deng told the court that practicing Falun Gong greatly improved her health. She became much happier following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and has never caused harm to anyone. She said that being a good person is not a crime, and that practicing Falun Gong is also not a crime.