By Jessie Pang, James Pomfret HONG KONG, November 20 (Reuters) -Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, 76, testified in court for the first time on Wednesday in his landmark national security trial,

Jimmy Lai, the pugnacious Hong Kong media tycoon whose now shuttered tabloid Apple Daily was a regular thorn in Beijing’s side, took the stand Wednesday in his own defense for the first time in a high stakes national security trial that could send him to prison for life.

The media tycoon, who is accused of masterminding pro-democracy protests, testified at his trial for the first time. He could be sent to prison for life.