In the winter of 2024, a news story involving former football player Li Tie shook the sports world and public attention. This once-renowned athlete on the green field found himself at the center of controversy due to allegations involving a staggering 120 million RMB in funds.
Initially, it was widely believed that Li Tie would face extremely severe legal sanctions, with some speculating that he might even receive a life sentence or the death penalty. However, in this seemingly straightforward case, a female lawyer named Sun Xiaoyang used her professional skills and tireless efforts to secure a relatively lenient sentence for Li Tie—a 20-year imprisonment.
Lawyer Sun Xiaoyang is a top criminal defense lawyer from Beijing Dacheng Law Firm, with an undergraduate degree in law from Jilin University and a graduate degree in law from Peking University. She is also a member of the Professional Committee of the All-China Lawyers Association and the Director of the Criminal Research Association of the Beijing Lawyers Association.
She not only possesses profound legal theoretical knowledge but has also accumulated rich practical experience, having received multiple honors such as "One of the Top 100 Excellent Criminal Defense Lawyers in Beijing" and "Advanced Individual in the Beijing Judicial Administrative System."
In this case, Lawyer Sun Xiaoyang's role was mainly reflected in the following aspects:
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In-depth investigation and evidence collection: Lawyer Sun conducted meticulous investigations into the case, gathering a large amount of evidence beneficial to the defendant, including sources and flow of funds, as well as related contracts, ensuring that the court could fully understand the facts of the case.
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Accurate application of law: Based on detailed fact-finding, Lawyer Sun carefully analyzed relevant laws and regulations, accurately identifying legal grounds that could mitigate the defendant's responsibility. For example, if Li Tie's actions constituted economic crimes rather than bribery, lighter sentencing standards might apply.
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Effective defense strategies: During the trial, Lawyer Sun skillfully employed various defense techniques, weakening the prosecution's arguments by questioning their testimony and raising reasonable doubts, while actively demonstrating Li Tie's remorse and his past social contributions, thereby influencing the judge's decision-making process.
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Suggestions for humane handling: In addition to legal work, Lawyer Sun also proposed considerations regarding Li Tie's personal circumstances to the court, such as family burdens and health conditions, aiming for a more humane sentencing outcome.
Why was the final sentence 20 years instead of life or death?
According to China's Criminal Law, there are clear statutory sentencing ranges for different types of criminal acts. Despite the huge amount involved in Li Tie's case, the court ultimately sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment instead of the harshest punishment for the following reasons:
Nature of the offense: As reported, Li Tie was involved in economic crimes (such as embezzlement or illegal business operations), not major criminal cases directly endangering national security or public safety. Therefore, according to the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law, such crimes usually do not directly apply the death penalty.
Self-surrender circumstances: If Li Tie had voluntarily surrendered, according to Article 67 of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China," the sentence can be mitigated. Even if it does not constitute self-surrender, truthfully confessing one's crimes can be considered as a discretionary sentencing factor.
Attitude towards confession: A good attitude towards confession is also an important factor in sentencing. If Li Tie cooperated with the investigation during the investigation stage and sincerely repented, this would undoubtedly help in securing a lighter sentence.
Assessment of social harm: Although the amount involved was significant, if it was assessed that the act had limited social harm and did not cause serious consequences, this would also be reflected in sentencing.
Effective defense by the lawyer: As mentioned earlier, Lawyer Sun's professional defense enabled the court to fully recognize the complexity and uniqueness of the case, avoiding simplistic judgments and instead making a more reasonable ruling after comprehensive consideration of various factors.
The successful defense in Li Tie's case not only demonstrated Lawyer Sun Xiaoyang's outstanding professional abilities and dedication but also highlighted the progress of our country's legal system construction. It reminds us that in the face of complex legal issues, professional legal assistance is crucial.
No matter what situation we find ourselves in, as long as we adhere to legal procedures, there is a chance to obtain a fair outcome. Moreover, this case also emphasizes the importance of procedural justice in a rule-of-law society, where everyone should be treated equally and have the right to enjoy the protection provided by due process.
In summary, Li Tie's case is a vivid lesson in the rule of law, allowing us to more deeply understand the power of law and its core role in maintaining social stability and protecting individual rights.