If a close relative acts as a defender, can he meet the defendant before the trial and during the appeal?

According to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, citizens other than lawyers can act as defenders, and with the permission of the people's court, they can understand the case and meet and correspond with the defendant in custody. According to this provision, if a close relative is a defender, if there is no case involved, there will be no collusion with the defendant, which is conducive to defending the defendant. The court will allow close relatives' defenders to meet the defendants in custody. After the judgment of the court of first instance, during the appeal period, the defenders of close relatives asked for an appeal and met with the defendant in custody to obtain the defendant's consent through consultation. Under normal circumstances, the court will also allow it.