Association condemns killing of lawyer in Wuhan

The All China Lawyers Association has strongly condemned the killing of a lawyer in Hubei province on Monday and called for the protection of lawyers.

A 47-year-old male suspect surnamed Lei was detained on suspicion of assaulting lawyer Xue Weixing at around 10 am on Monday, according to a statement issued by the public security sub-bureau of the East Lake High-Tech Development Zone in Wuhan, Hubei's provincial capital.

Xue died from his wounds after medical treatment failed, police said.

A preliminary investigation found that Lei had been involved in various disputes with Xue.

The case is under further investigation, police said. No further details were given.

In a statement issued late on Monday, the All China Lawyers Association condemned the killing.

It said it had sent staff members to Hubei to visit Xue's family and express condolences.

It added that it would continue to follow the case and help his family deal with the aftermath.

Lawyers are an important force in the promotion of comprehensive law-based governance, the association said, adding that they shoulder the responsibility of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of their clients, ensuring laws are correctly followed and safeguarding social equity and justice.

The legal rights and interests of lawyers are protected by law, and any illegal or criminal retaliation against them will be severely punished by law, it said.

The association called on society as a whole to care for lawyers and protect their rights, and it also reminded lawyers to protect themselves in the process of their work.

A report by ThePaper.cn, a Shanghai-based news portal, said Xue was 30 years old and worked for Hubei Gaozhao Law Firm.

It said he was shot with a homemade gun inside a legal services center on Xinzhu Road in the high-tech zone.

The lawyers' colleagues are cooperating with the police investigation, and his father and other family members have arrived in Wuhan to deal with the aftermath.