Peking trial near its windup

China's special court trying the so-called "gang of four" and six other defendants on charges of counterrevolution completed its proceedings against two more of the accused, leaving only Mao Tse-tung's widow, Jiang Qing, still in the dock. the New China News Agency said Wang Hongwen, a former Communist Party vice-chairman, pleaded guilty to plotting an armed rebellion in Shanghai in late 1976. Another gang member, fomer Shanghai Mayor Zhang Chunqiao, who faces the same charge, remained silent, as he has throughout the three-week-old trial.

The news agency said the prosecutor declared that the evidence presented in court showed Messrs. Wang and Zhang were guilty of the rebellion charge. Presiding Judge Zeng hanzhou then announced the conclusion of the court investigations against them as listed in the 20,000-word indictment.

Jiang Qing herself was forcibly removed from the courtroom Friday after getting into a shouting match with a weeping witness she was accused of having persecuted during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. But it appears likely that the case against her will also be concluded soon. This will leave the summing up of evidence, any legal arguments or defense pleas, and the verdicts and sentences.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Peking trial near its windup
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/1215/121523.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe