Li Zhuang’s case in real time

In mid-November 2009, the family members of Gong Gangmo, the leader of a gang in Chongqing, came to Beijing to find Li Zhuang and asked him to defend Gong Gangmo. Li Zhuang accepted the commission to become Gong Gangmo's defender.

On November 24, 26 and December 4, 2009, Li Zhuang met with Gong Gangmo three times.

On December 10, 2009, Gong Gangmo reported Li Zhuang, claiming that Li Zhuang instigated him to fabricate a false confession that was "extracted by torture."

On December 11, 2009, Li Zhuang was urgently recalled to Beijing by his firm, and on the same day he notified the Chongqing Court in writing that he had terminated his defense for Gong Gangmo.

On December 12, 2009, Chongqing police arrested Li Zhuang in Beijing and escorted him back to Chongqing.

On December 13, 2009, Li Zhuang was criminally detained.

On December 14, 2009, China Youth Daily, CCTV and many other news media began to disclose the details of Li Zhuang’s case in large sections, and published Li Zhuang’s so-called text messages: “Money is too much, people are stupid, It's dark enough, come quickly." The text message was later confirmed to be fabricated and false.

On December 14, 2009, Li Zhuang was arrested. The alleged crime is "defense fabricating evidence and obstructing testimony."

On December 17, 2009, the Lizhuang case was transferred to the Procuratorate for review and prosecution.

On December 18, 2009, the case was prosecuted by the Procuratorate to the People’s Court of Jiangbei District, Chongqing City.

On December 20, 2009, famous criminal defense lawyers Gao Zicheng and Chen Youxi accepted the entrustment of Li Zhuang’s family and became Li Zhuang’s defenders.

On December 28, 2009, Gao Zicheng proposed to carry out injury identification on Gong Gangmo to determine whether he had any external injuries.

On December 29, 2009, the forensic identification was released: After identification, Gong Gangmo had no injuries on his hands.

After a 16-hour trial from 9 a.m. on December 30 to 1 a.m. on December 31, 2009, the first instance of the Lizhuang case was adjourned.

On January 8, 2010, Li Zhuang was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison by the first instance. Li Zhuang refused to accept the verdict and insisted that he was innocent and appealed.

On January 15, 2010, Li Zhuang’s defender went to the detention center to meet with him again, and he still stated that he was not guilty.

On February 3, 2010, the second trial of Li Zhuang's case opened. Li Zhuang unexpectedly confessed in court and deliberately read aloud a "Repentance Letter" written in the form of an "acrostic poem".

On February 9, 2010, at the final trial, Li Zhuang was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison. Li Zhuang grabbed the microphone in court and claimed that his confession was false, but he still insisted that he was innocent.

On April 19, 2011, the first trial of Li Zhuang’s crime case was held, and both sides defended fiercely.

On April 22, 2011, Li Zhuang missed the case and the prosecution dropped the prosecution on the grounds of doubtful facts.

On June 11, 2011, Li Zhuang was released from prison and took a flight back to Beijing with his wife and children that day.

On December 12, 2011, Li Zhuang, lawyer Chi Susheng and Li Yatong, Li Zhuang’s son, went to the Supreme Court and filed a complaint, requesting that the original guilty verdict be revoked and the verdict be changed to not guilty.

On November 15, 2012, Li Zhuang, Wang Shihua, Gong Ganghua, and Gong Yunfei went to the Supreme People's Procuratorate to accuse the "Lizhuang Case" task force of framing Li Zhuang.

On November 16, 2012, CCTV, "Beijing News", "Beijing Times" and major websites reported the progress of the Lizhuang case complaint.

On November 23, 2012, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate interviewed Li Zhuang.

On November 29, 2012, Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court interviewed Li Zhuang.

On July 29, 2013, the Central Inspection Team interviewed Lizhuang at the Yudu Hotel in Chongqing.