Prosecutors in Mason are alleging a Chinese gang is behind the assault of MSU student Yan Li, on Jan. 31, 2014, the night of Chinese New Year, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Hesse said that the gang is made up of Chinese students who also attend MSU, calling themselves "Chengguan" after a police force in China.
24-year-old Meng Long Li and 21-year-old Shan Gao are the two defendants in the trial. Li is an MSU graduate with degrees in computer science and actuarial science and Gao is a current student whose name as "Shan" is unlisted on MSU People Search. Hesse alleged that Li is a higher level enforcer in the gang and Gao is a lower level operative.
The two men face a number of assault charges, including attempt to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Defense attorney for Li, Chris Bergstrom, asserted that not only is there no gang, but that his client was innocent of the assault charges.
Testimonies in the trial resume today.
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