Can the client of a criminal case be friends?

A defendant in a criminal case may entrust a friend as a defender.

Article 32 of the Criminal Procedure Law: In addition to exercising the right of defense, a criminal suspect or defendant may entrust one or two persons as defenders. The following persons may be entrusted as defenders:

(1) lawyers;

(2) A person recommended by a people's organization or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;

(3) Guardians, relatives and friends of criminal suspects and defendants.