Self-defense, the defendant's own rebuttal to the accusation. Self-defense is the most important form for the defendant to exercise the right of defense, which runs through the whole litigation process. Even if a defender is entrusted or appointed, he can still defend himself. At the stage of filing a case for investigation, especially when compulsory measures are taken against the defendant, the defendant has the right to know what charges he has been accused of, what crimes he has committed, and what are the factual and legal basis for taking compulsory measures against him, and at the same time, he has the right to put forward excuses that he is innocent, guilty lightly or relieved of criminal responsibility. When questioned, the defendant has the right to refuse to answer questions irrelevant to the case except truthfully answering questions.
The people's courts, people's procuratorates and public security organs shall guarantee the right to defense and other litigation rights enjoyed by criminal suspects, defendants and other participants in litigation according to law. In addition to exercising the right of defense, criminal suspects and defendants may also entrust one or two people 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.
A person who has been sentenced to punishment according to law or deprived of or restricted personal freedom shall not act as a defender. A person who has been dismissed from public office or has his lawyer's or notary's practice certificate revoked may not act as a defender, except the guardian or near relative of the criminal suspect or defendant.
A criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender from the day when he is interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or takes compulsory measures. During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time. When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking compulsory measures against him, the investigation organ shall inform him that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender.
Article 14 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), the people's courts, people's procuratorates and public security organs shall guarantee the right of defense and other litigation rights of criminal suspects, defendants and other litigation participants according to law. Participants in litigation have the right to sue judges, prosecutors and investigators for violating citizens' litigation rights and personal insults.