The other defendants included “Hong Kong’s father of democracy” Martin Lee and veteran pro-democracy figures Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan. They have been charged with organizing and participating in a peaceful protest on Hong Kong Island on August 18, 2019, which had been banned by police. Among the 9 defendants, all however ex-lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung pleaded not responsible.
On Thursday, choose Amanda Woodcock convicted the defendants, including they are going to be sentenced at one other date. The prices carry a most penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.
“The prosecution is able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that all the defendants organized what amounted to an unauthorized assembly on August 18, 2019,” she advised the court.
The choice adopted a 20-day trial in February and March, one among many who have emerged from the just about year-long unrest that rocked the town in 2019.
Audrey Eu, a barrister who represented Lai, argued in court that police shouldn’t be given the facility to ban peaceful protests as a result of it might violate the constitutional safety for freedom of meeting. She additionally argued the defendants have been merely main protesters away from Victoria Park due to overcrowding.
However, the choose mentioned Hong Kong’s high court has beforehand upheld the legality of police banning protests to guard the general public curiosity, and mentioned there have been no “good and arguable grounds” for suggesting the defendants have been simply dispersing the group.
“The decision to prosecute remains the sole authority of the Department of Justice,” she added. “There were no grounds raised to justify an interference with that decision.”
Speaking earlier than the court session, veteran pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan thanked Hong Kongers for his or her help and known as on them to maintain up the combat for democracy.
“We will still march on, no matter what lies in the future. We believe in the people of Hong Kong. The victory is ours if the people of Hong Kong are persistent,” he mentioned.
Another defendant, “Longhair” Leung Kwok-hung, repeatedly chanted “peaceful protest is not a crime” within the courtroom, a chant additionally heard exterior, the place supporters had gathered. The court opened a couple of extra areas as court extensions to accommodate the group.
Supporters chanted protest slogans exterior the court constructing earlier than the decision was handed down.
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