Jimmy Lai says no ‘serious violence’ during Legco storming because ‘no one was injured’

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Former media owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will return to the stand for a second day on Thursday in his national security trial in Hong Kong, with his lawyers expected to ask him to respond to other allegations from former staff of his now-defunct newspaper.

Lai has pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges of conspiring with foreign forces under the national security law and a third charge of conspiring to print and distribute seditious publications in connection with Apple Daily, his now closed tabloid newspaper.

On the first day of his defense on Wednesday, the former media boss denied that he had used his connections to influence foreign policy in Hong Kong or mainland China, or that he had abused his friendships with foreign officials to advance a political agenda. promote.

He was asked to elaborate on his relationship with politicians and figures from the United States, Great Britain and Taiwan.

Lai also elaborated on his position on Hong Kong and Taiwan independence, describing the advocacy of such ideas as “a conspiracy” and “a trap.”

The court examined a series of his interactions with his former employees at Apple Daily, requiring Lai to explain the intent and rationale behind his actions, including his desire to gain support from then-President Trump’s US administration to end the Beijing stop the crisis. imposed national security law, implemented on June 30, 2020.

Defense attorneys said they expected it would take three weeks of questioning him before cross-examination by prosecutors.

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