From Reuters via The Washington Post:
China will next week try a blind human rights activist whose previous controversial conviction was overturned, his lawyer said on Wednesday, voicing fears the new trial will not hear claims that testimony was obtained through police torture.
Chen Guangcheng, who drew international attention last year by reporting forced late-term abortions and other family planning abuses in eastern China’s Shandong province, will stand trial on Monday morning, his lawyer Li Fangping told Reuters.
In August, Chen was sentenced to four years and three months in jail on charges that he damaged property and disrupted traffic after a protest erupted in his home village of Dongshigu in February. But he and his family maintained the case was trumped up by vengeful officials, and an appeal court ordered a retrial.[Full Text]
