The mitigation proceedings come around one month after 14 democrats were found guilty with two acquittals. Several others had earlier pleaded guilty.
The 45 convicted democrats will make mitigation pleas in six batches over the next six weeks, before the sentencing that could range from three years for active participants in the conspiracy, to life for “principal offenders”.
On Monday, former law professor Benny Tai, 59, was among the first five defendants to make a mitigation plea.
Tai, who earlier pleaded guilty, was deemed by the judges in the written verdict to be the “brains and primary promoter” behind the primary election to seriously interfere, disrupt or undermine the performance of the government.
Others include those accused of organising the primary election and who have since pleaded guilty and become witnesses for the prosecution – Au Nok-hin, Andrew Chiu and Ben Chung. They were separated from Tai by eight uniformed prison wardens in the dock.
Australian-Hong Kong dual citizen Gordon Ng, 45, is the first among those who pleaded not guilty due to make his mitigation plea.
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