NEW YORK, Feb 26 -- New York's Chinese community has called for a fair and just trial, uninfluenced by the intensified relations between police and the public, for Chinese-American NYPD officer Peter Liang for the Nov. 20 fatal shooting of the black man Akai Gurley.

The current situation that the Chinese has little influence in American politics needs to change, Brooklyn Asian Communities Empowerment Chairman Shanzhuang Chen told Xinhua Thursday.

According to Chen, the Chinese community representatives would come to court to express their support when Peter's case opens.

"We're asking court to give Peter a fair trial, rather than making a decision under social pressure or public opinions," he said.

Liang, a 27-year-old rookie officer with a year and a half on the job, is accused of discharging his weapon and fatally wounding Gurley, 28, when he entered a dark stairwell in Brooklyn's East New York housing project and his partner were patrolling the complex where reports of violent crime had spiked.

According to prosecutors, the stairwell was completely dark when Liang's ricocheted bullet struck the chest of Gurley, who made two flights of stairs before collapsing.

On Feb. 10, a Brooklyn grand jury indicted Liang on six counts, including manslaughter. He would face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

New York's Brooklyn Asian Communities Empowerment held a news conference Wednesday during which people stood in a silent three-minute tribute to Akai Gurley and other victims of confrontations between police and black men.