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"You Should Thank Me for Having Not Murdered You"
"You Should Thank Me for Having Not Murdered You"
--Snapshots from Changde Robbery and Murder Trial Zhang Jun, chief of a gang behind the deaths of 28 victims, a string of armed robberies and more than 20 deadly assaults from 1993 to 2000, was put on trial at Chongqing No 1 Intermediate People's Court, April 14, along with four mistresses of his and six other accomplices.
"You should thank me for having not murdered you!" was Zhang's threat to witness Zhou Mi. Though he spoke little through the eleven hours' trial the utterance had driven home the devil's evil soul.
Devil stepped on stage, mistresses bringing up the rear Saturday morning, the over 200 visitor's seats of the Court were fully occupied by representatives from the NPC and CPPCC of Chongqing, personnel from the judicial system, lawyers, relatives and family members of victims. Only a few reporters from central and local media were admitted in.
At 9 am sharp, Zhang Jun appeared in deep blue suit and white shirt, with shackles on. He turned his head to the visitor's seat, wearing a look the way he was under arrest, panic yet still arrogant.
His four women followed in a line. Qin Zhibi and Quan Hongyan were both dressed in red, quite dazzling under bright lights of the court. Yang Mingyan's long hair was cut, wrapped in a suit you can't tell green or yellow. Beside her was her elder brother Yang Zhaojun, charged of illegal trafficking of bullets to Zhang.
Chen Shixing, who sold "munitions" to Zhang, could not understand standard Chinese and a Vietnamese interpreter was arranged upon her request.
Quite calmly seated were the bereaved on the visitor's without resorting to extremities.
Did not know his home Altogether 11 defendants were brought to justice, going through identity checking. Queer enough, Zhang always replied "I don't know" or "don't remember" when asked when he was put into custody, arrested or received a copy of bill of prosecution. Even more funny, he pondered for a good half minute when asked about his birthplace. Maybe he really didn't know which was his legal "home" for a drifting sinful life.
Zhang refused lawyers' service The Court had arranged lawyer for Zhang for two times, but he gave a flat refusal, so he was allowed to defend by himself. Then the indictment was read in standard Chinese, which took an hour and a half.
The bereaved wept on their seats. When asked about "Do you agree with the facts in the indictment?" Zhang answered promptly "Yes!" and most other defendants echoed.
Confessed to his crimes when questioned alone Then Zhang was left alone in the court for trail. The first case was a cigarette shop robbery on June 25, 1991. Zhang confessed to his crimes, saying he got bullets from a fellow-townsman, who was a soldier, under the excuse "to treat illness with bullet power".
The trial proceeded in good order. The first six cases were all conducted by Zhang alone, and he responded "I admit" most evidences showed to him, but he uttered the words in a way more casual than sincere.
Zhang and mistresses biting each other The trial reached its climax when Zhang and his two mistresses, Yan Min and Qin Zhibi, biting each other fiercely for both sides struggled to evade responsibilities.
Yan said Zhang threatened her, with the life of her family, into robbing and murdering a person (named Li Jiuchuan) just coming out of a bank in Chongqing January 25, 1995. She also said Zhang often tortured her and burned her hands and private parts with cigarette stubs.
While Zhang confessed "I beat all my women" but denied his part in threatening Yan.
Besides, Zhang said he had given 5000 yuan to Yan but Yan denied, with no evidence drawn from either party.
The Court finally decided Yan was put to threat and didn't accept the money.
Zhang also quarreled with another mistress Qin on a shop robbery. Qin told she knew nothing of it before the case while Zhang said she was "always active". The court favored Qin at last.
Zhang wanted a cushioned chair During the trial Zhang complained about his chair as "too hard", and a cushioned chair was brought to him by the court.
April 14's trial lasted altogether 11 hours.
The trial ended by the press time as the first session called on April 21.
By PD Online staff member Li Heng
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