They are covertly sentenced in March 2010, long after their trial and with no time allowed for family members to attend or protest.

Mr. Xie Yu and His Mother Given Prison Terms (Photo)

Mr. Xie Yu and his mother Ms. Shang Xiaoli from Dalian City were given three-year prison terms. Shahekou District Court covertly announced the verdict on March 31, 2010, with no one present observing the court proceedings. The court didn't inform the two practitioners' families of the upcoming proceedings until that same morning, so their family members were unable to arrive at the court in time to attend the court session.

Mr. Xie, 28, an employee of Alto Locomotive Co., Ltd. in Dalian City, had mentioned Falun Gong and the persecution while chatting with friends on the Internet. As a result of this, four officers from Fuguojie Police Station arrested him at his workplace on September 17, 2009. The police also went to Mr. Xie's home to search for Falun Gong materials, where they learned that his mother Ms. Shang was also a Falun Gong practitioner. She was therefore arrested as well. The mother and son have been held at Yaojia Detention Center in Dalian City ever since.

The family received a notice of arrest on October 22, 2009 from Shahekou Police Precinct. Both of them were brought to the District Court on January 18, 2010. Their lawyer made a strong defense with undeniable evidence, and the judge was unable to raise any questions regarding the defense. The judge announced the trial was over, stating the court would release a judgment in ten days.

Li Bianjiang, Shahekou District Court judge, in charge of this case: 86-411-82793527