Yang Lanlan reported to the police, accompanied by a bodyguard. (Online image)
[People News] The case involving the mysterious wealthy woman, Yang Lanlan, who allegedly hit a pedestrian with her luxury car, was held for the third time on October 17 in Sydney, Australia, but she was once again absent. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with Yang Lanlan's third absence and demanded that she clarify her plea at the next hearing scheduled for November 14. Additionally, the lawyers for both the prosecution and defence are currently negotiating a plea deal for Yang Lanlan.
On the morning of October 17 at 9:30 AM, the Central Local Court in Sydney convened again to address the case involving Yang Lanlan's alleged drunk driving and pedestrian hit-and-run. This hearing was primarily procedural and was presided over by the court's registrar.
Previously, the judge had mandated that the defendant respond on October 17, but Yang Lanlan's attorney, John Korn, indicated that more time was needed to address the charges.
The hearing was very brief, lasting about 10 minutes. Yang Lanlan did not attend in person and did not appear via video link. Attorney John Korn did not explicitly state whether she would plead guilty or how she would plead. He mentioned in court that they are still in communication with senior police officials regarding the charges and requested another postponement to continue reviewing the case.
The registrar expressed dissatisfaction with Yang Lanlan's repeated absence, stating that the defendant has had sufficient time to consider her plea. However, the registrar agreed to postpone the case until November 14. The registrar emphasised that at the next hearing, Yang Lanlan's side must submit a clear plea response and expressed hope that she would attend in person on November 14.
Yang Lanlan's defence attorney, John Korn, boasts over 40 years of experience in criminal law. In 2018, he represented mainland Chinese actor Gao Yunxiang in a sexual assault case in Australia, which spanned two years and ultimately concluded with Gao being acquitted.
As John Korn departed from the scene, he sidestepped numerous questions from reporters. When asked whether Yang Lanlan had any ties to the Chinese Communist Party, he refrained from revealing her identity or the source of her wealth.
Following the incident involving Yang Lanlan, rumours have circulated that she is a descendant of high-ranking Communist Party officials, with some even suggesting she could be the illegitimate daughter of Xi Jinping.
Yang Lanlan is currently facing four charges: 'driving a vehicle but refusing or failing to cooperate with a breath test', 'dangerous driving causing serious injury', 'failing to provide details to the police', and 'negligent driving causing serious injury'.
Of these charges, 'dangerous driving causing serious injury' carries a potential sentence of up to 7 years in prison under New South Wales law, with the possibility of even harsher penalties. In contrast, for 'negligent driving causing serious injury', first-time offenders could face a maximum of 9 months in prison, while repeat offenders may face up to 12 months.
The courtroom for this hearing had approximately 30 public seats, with over 80% of the audience being Chinese, many of whom appeared to be international students from China. Most attendees expressed significant disappointment, particularly regarding the slow progress of the case, which left them at a loss for words.
James, a Chinese attendee, remarked that the case has been prolonged, and he suspects the defence is waiting for public interest to diminish in hopes of securing a lighter sentence. He stated, 'It's still about money; this lawyer is just dragging it out.'
Emma, a Chinese woman who has attended all three court hearings, remarked, "It might be postponed until after Christmas, as there has been no progress."
At the end of September, when the lawyer requested the court to amend Yang Lanlan's bail conditions, it was noted that she suffers from severe mental health issues and seldom leaves her home. It was also highlighted that Yang Lanlan was sent to Australia for her studies at the age of 14 and has rarely returned to China since then. Currently, she holds an Australian permanent residency visa as a foreign citizen. Following this, Yang Lanlan's bail conditions were revised to include: surrendering her passport; prohibiting her from driving; and reducing her reporting frequency to the police from three times a week to once a week. The initial curfew restrictions have now been lifted.
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