On 8 May 2017, the trial of Xie Yang, a prominent Chinese human-rights lawyer, has begun without prior public notice. Monday's development follows delayed proceedings in the case, which has prompted international concern after allegations that he had been tortured. Xie Yang, who had worked on numerous cases considered politically sensitive by China's ruling Communist Party, was among hundreds of legal staff and activists detained in a crackdown in the summer of 2015. "On May 8 at 9:30am, the trial of defendant Xie Yang opened.[He] is charged with inciting subversion of state power and disrupting court order," the Changsha Intermediate People's Court said in an online statement. The court also posted what appeared to be a transcript of opening proceedings. Last-minute delays or sudden announcements of sensitive trials are not uncommon, even though Chinese law requires courts to give a defendant's family and lawyers three days notice of any changes. On April 25, dozens of supporters and at least seven diplomats had gathered at the Changsha court in central Hunan province - a long way from Beijing and Shanghai - only to be told the trial was indefinitely postponed. Since they received no confirmation of the new trial date, diplomatic sources told AFP news agency they were not prepared to head to remote Changsha again to observe the trial. Local activists said in social media posts that they were "warned" on Sunday not to go to Changsha, without providing details about the warnings. UPDATE: On 10 May 2017, Xie Yang was apparently released on bail even though a verdict has not been announced. At the trial Xie Yang said that he was not tortured, contradicting what he told his lawyers in January when he recounted prolonged torture he had suffered during his detention, including lengthy interrogations, beatings, and deprivation of water and sleep. UPDATE: On 13 June 2017, one month after the trial, the court has yet to release a verdict on Xie Yang's case and the defender's current whereabouts remains unknown.