Mitigation Hearings

Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday wrapped up mitigation hearings for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, moving his long running national security case into its final phase ahead of sentencing.

The hearings mark the last major step in a trial that has drawn sustained international attention and diplomatic concern, with a sentencing date to be announced later by the court.

Lai’s lawyers and counsel for eight co defendants, including senior former editors and executives at the now closed Apple Daily newspaper, spent two days arguing for reduced sentences based on the defendants’ roles and circumstances. “There are a lot of …