Famous singer's son pleads innocence in gang-rape case

A Beijing intermediate people's court held a trial Tuesday, after an appeal by a renowned military singer's son over a rape case which had resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.

The Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court held a closed-door trial for about 12 hours from 9:17 am on Tuesday, because the military singer Li Shuangjiang's son, Li Tianyi, is only 17 years old, and should be protected under China's laws.

Li Tianyi and the other four male defendants were found guilty of raping a woman, surnamed Yang, in a Beijing hotel after drinking in a bar on February 17, according to an announcement from the Beijing Haidian District People's Court on September 26 after a two-day closed-door trial held on August 28 and 29.