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Thread: Brendt Christensen Sentenced to LWOP in 2017 IL Murder of Chinese Scholar, Yingying Zhang

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    Brendt Christensen Sentenced to LWOP in 2017 IL Murder of Chinese Scholar, Yingying Zhang







    Prosecutors to seek death penalty in Chinese scholar case

    By Michael Tarm
    ABC News

    U.S. prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a former physics student charged with the kidnapping and killing of a University of Illinois scholar from China, they told a judge in a Friday filing that also made a new allegation that the 28-year-old suspect once choked and sexually assaulted someone else years ago.

    The filing in U.S. District Court in central Illinois provides several reasons for why the death penalty is called for in Brendt Christensen's case, including because he allegedly tortured 26-year-old Yingying Zhang before killing her. It didn't say how.

    The new allegation is that Christensen "choked and sexually assaulted" someone referred to only by the initials "M.D." in 2013 in central Illinois. He has not been charged in that alleged assault. Christensen also once expressed his aspiration "to be known as a killer," the filing says.

    Zhang disappeared June 9 on her way to sign an apartment lease off campus in Urbana, some 140 miles (225 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. She had arrived on campus in April and had just missed a bus when Christensen lured her into his car, prosecutors say. They say Zhang is dead, though her body hasn't been found.

    Christensen, who earned a master's degree in physics from the University of Illinois, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping resulting in death. His trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 27, though his attorneys have said previously they would need more time to prepare, especially if the government intended to seek the death penalty.

    Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011, years after then-Gov. George Ryan declared a moratorium on executions, citing doubts about the guilt of several of those on death row. While capital punishment is available under federal law, prosecutors typically seek it in cases involving terrorism or multiple deaths.

    Among other factors Friday's five-page filing says justifies the death penalty was the "heinous, cruel, or depraved manner" of the crime and that it involved "planning and premeditation," as well as what the document says is Christensen's "lack of remorse."

    "The victim was particularly vulnerable due to her small stature and limited ability to communicate in English," the filing says.

    A message seeking comment from Christensen's attorney, Robert Tucker, wasn't immediately returned.

    Zhang, who received her master's degree in environmental engineering in China in 2016, had hoped to eventually land a professorship and help her family in China out financially. Her father, a sometime-semitrailer driver, traveled from China to Illinois in June for the search.

    Her disappearance prompted a massive search that drew international media attention, particularly from China.

    Other disturbing details in the case emerged after Christensen's arrest last year.

    Months before Zhang went missing, his phone was used to visit the website FetLife.com, including to view threads titled "Perfect abduction fantasy" and "planning a kidnapping," prosecutors say.

    FetLife described itself as "the Social Network for the BDSM, Fetish & Kinky Community," stressing in policy statements that it's a place for consenting adults. The acronym BDSM stands for bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism. Users provide their ages, genders and roles they wish to play, but otherwise remain anonymous.

    http://abcnews.go.com/International/...-case-52473447
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Christensen's attorneys ask for delay in death penalty trial

    By Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

    URBANA — Following the government's decision last week to seek the death penalty against accused kidnapper and killer Brendt Christensen, his lawyers are asking to delay the trial.

    In a motion filed Tuesday, Christensen's lawyers asked that any pretrial deadlines be removed and that a previously scheduled pretrial hearing be used to discuss a new schedule for the trial.

    Prosecutors have until Feb. 2 to respond.

    The trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 27, though a delay was expected if U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions decided to seek the death penalty.

    "Both parties recognize that a February trial date would be impossible and impractical now that this case carries the possibility of capital punishment," Christensen's lawyers wrote.

    On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce said that any responses to other pretrial motions, including motions by Christensen's lawyers to move the trial and drop the main charge against him, won't be required until this motion to delay the trial is resolved.

    Christensen, 28, is charged with the kidnapping resulting in death of visiting Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang, 26, of Urbana, on June 9, 2017, as well as lying to federal agents.

    He was arrested June 30 and has been in custody since.

    Christensen's court-appointed lawyers — Elisabeth Pollock, George Taseff and Robert Tucker — had already stated that the decision to seek the death penalty would prompt them to seek a continuance. And prosecutors have indicated that they will not object.

    The potential for the penalty means more work for all involved, but especially the defense lawyers, who have to prepare for the penalty phase at the same time they are building a defense to Christensen's alleged crimes.

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...lty-trial.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Prosecutors OK with Christensen delay

    By Mary Schenk
    The News-Gazette

    URBANA — Prosecutors for the U.S. government said Wednesday they have no objection to continuing the jury trial of accused kidnapper and killer Brendt Christensen.

    Less than two weeks ago, the government announced it intends to seek the death penalty for the former University of Illinois student accused of the kidnapping resulting in death of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang, 26.

    The student of agriculture from China went missing from Urbana on June 9. Her remains have never been located.

    Christensen, 28, of Champaign, was developed as a suspect within days and has been in federal custody since June 30. His jury trial was scheduled for Feb. 27 in Urbana.

    When the U.S. Attorney's office filed its intent to seek the death penalty should Christensen be convicted, his public defenders asked the court to vacate all existing deadlines and trial dates.

    "The United States understands that the defendant intends to amend and/or supplement his pending motions in light of the notice of intent to seek a sentence of death," wrote prosecutors Eugene Miller and Bryan Freres, adding they did not object to the defense motion to continue.

    The prosecutors said they have and will continue to confer with the defense attorneys regarding how much time each side needs to be ready.

    Prosecutors joined in the defense attorneys' previous request to change the Feb. 12 final pretrial conference to a hearing to discuss scheduling.

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...sen-delay.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Christensen trial dates due by midnight

    By Kaitlyn Connolly
    IllinoisHomePage.net

    CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) -- The prosecutors and defense attorneys have until midnight to give a proposed schedule for Brendt Christensen's trial.

    He's accused of kidnapping and killing UI scholar Yingying Zhang.

    The federal government is seeking the death penalty and the U.S. District Attorney says that's why they're not against delaying the trial, but it's still up to a judge to determine if the trial will be pushed back.

    By midnight, both parties have to announce when they believe the trial should start and how long it will take. A judge will look over the dates on Monday.

    http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news...ight/958287852

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Suspect in scholar kidnapping asks judge to recuse himself

    By Michael Tarm
    The Washington Post

    CHICAGO — Lawyers for a former physics student accused of kidnapping and killing a 26-year-old University of Illinois scholar from China say they want the judge overseeing the death-penalty case to recuse himself, though they don’t spell out why in newly filed public records.

    In documents filed Wednesday in federal court in central Illinois, Brendt Christensen’s attorneys also argue the case is so complex that they’ll need until June 2019 to prepare for trial, including to potentially research their 28-year-old client’s genealogy and prenatal care. Prosecutors want a trial much sooner, in October.

    Both sides agreed a scheduled Feb. 24 trial date had to be struck after prosecutors announced in January they’ll seek the death penalty, citing allegations Christensen tortured Yingying Zhang before killing her. Capital punishment is available in federal cases — but rarely sought. The state of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.

    The defense must go through voluminous evidence, with less manpower than federal prosecutors have available. That includes thousands of written documents, 14 discs of wiretapped calls, a DNA report and hundreds of hours of phone calls recorded from Christensen’s jail. There also is data from seven computer hard drives and four cellphones, according to the defense.

    The two-page filing informing U.S. District Judge Colin Stirling Bruce that Christensen’s legal team wants him off the case asks for permission to file a formal motion of recusal under seal. It hints that previously sealed documents the defense tried but failed to have released to the public underlie the recusal request. It doesn’t elaborate.

    Both defense attorney Robert Tucker and Sharon Paul, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office for the central district of Illinois, declined comment Thursday.

    Zhang’s disappearance on June 9 on her way to sign an apartment lease off campus in Urbana drew international media attention. The daughter of a semitrailer driver in China had just missed a bus when Christensen lured her into his car, prosecutors say. Her body has never been found.

    Prosecutors agree there’s a new layer of complexity now it’s a death-penalty case. In a Wednesday filing requesting an Oct. 16 trial date, prosecutors estimated trial testimony should last two weeks, while any death-penalty phase could last for three weeks.

    If jurors convict Christensen, prosecutor would portray the crime as calculated and cruel in seeking death. Defense attorneys would try to introduce mitigating factors, which can include evidence of mental illness or a difficult upbringing.

    The scope of the effort to save his life would involve a “comprehensive collection and analysis of every record that exists concerning the defendant,” defense filings say. A “multigenerational investigation of (Christensen’s) family tree” and research into nutrition he received while sin his mother’s womb could offer insight into his mental state, the defense argues.

    They cite New York psychiatric epidemiologist David Freedman as saying: “Even such common events as preterm birth and low birth weight ... are associated with later psychiatric and medical illnesses.”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...=.2e475c2827c4

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    Hearing to address whether judge will recuse himself in Chinese scholar kidnapping case

    By Herald & Review

    CHICAGO — A hearing is scheduled in the case of a former physics student accused of kidnapping and killing a University of Illinois scholar from China whose lawyers say they want the presiding judge to recuse himself in the death-penalty case.

    Monday's hearing in U.S. District Court in Urbana is expected to address the recusal issue and other matters.

    A two-page filing on Wednesday didn't spell out why Brendt Christensen's attorneys think Colin Stirling Bruce should step aside. And neither defense attorney Robert Tucker nor the U.S. attorney's office would comment.

    Prosecutors announced Jan. 19 they'll seek the death penalty, saying Christensen allegedly tortured Yingying Zhang before killing her. Capital punishment is available in federal cases — but rarely sought. The state of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.

    Monday's hearing could also address defense attorney's request for a trial to be pushed into mid-2019. Prosecutors want the trial this October.

    Zhang's disappearance on June 9 on her way to sign an apartment lease off campus in Urbana drew international media attention. The daughter of a semitrailer driver in China had just missed a bus when Christensen lured her into his car, prosecutors say. Her body has never been found.

    http://herald-review.com/news/state-...9995ae767.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Why he does not say, where is her body, then he know that everything is finish for him,her family could do funerals and she could mourn.
    In the Shadow of Your Wings
    1 A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

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    Judge sets April 2019 trial in missing Chinese scholar case

    By Herald & Review

    URBANA — A federal judge has set an April 2019 trial date for a former physics student accused of kidnapping and killing a University of Illinois scholar from China.

    The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce set the date during a hearing Monday.

    Prosecutors announced Jan. 19 they'll seek the death penalty, saying Christensen allegedly tortured Yingying Zhang before killing her. Capital punishment is available in federal cases — but rarely sought. The state of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.

    Neither prosecutors nor Christensen's attorneys objected to the new trial date. The trial had been scheduled to begin later this month, but both prosecutors and defense attorneys requested that it be delayed.

    Christensen was arrested last June, three weeks after Zhang disappeared. Christensen has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping resulting in death.

    Zhang's disappearance on June 9 on her way to sign an apartment lease off campus in Urbana drew international media attention. The daughter of a semitrailer driver in China had just missed a bus when Christensen lured her into his car, prosecutors say. Her body has never been found.

    http://herald-review.com/news/state-...9995ae767.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Prosecutors say they've held plea talks in kidnapping case

    Prosecutors say they've held plea talks in kidnapping case

    CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors say they've held talks on a possible plea deal with the suspect charged with kidnapping and killing a University of Illinois scholar from China.

    Prosecutors disclosed the talks in an Urbana federal court filing which offered no additional details. They recently said they'll seek the death penalty for Brendt Christensen, citing how he allegedly tortured 26-year-old Yingying Zhang before killing her. Her body hasn't been found.

    Such pretrial talks are not unusual. They often involve defendants offering cooperation for a lesser sentence. But what Christensen could offer and whether prosecutors would be willing to recommend a punishment other than death isn't clear.

    Wednesday's filing focused on a request to unseal certain court papers. In addressing that issue, prosecutors revealed the talks.

    http://www.commercial-news.com/news/...2e33c7e46.html
    In the Shadow of Your Wings
    1 A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

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    Lawyers for accused kidnapper say they face glut of evidence

    By Associated Press

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Lawyers for a man accused in the 2017 kidnapping and killing of a University of Illinois scholar from China say they have been overwhelmed by evidence.

    In a Friday court filing, Assistant Federal Defender Elisabeth Pollock wrote the defense has received approximately 11,500 pages of written discovery. She has also received dozens of disks containing audio and video recordings, photographs, computer and telephone forensics.

    Pollock said defense attorneys want prosecutors to disclose which evidence they’ll use at trial. Not doing so she wrote “unfairly forces defense counsel to defend against the entirety of the enormous volume of government discovery in this case.”

    Government attorneys announced Jan. 19 that they’ll seek the death penalty. They say it’s called for, because Christensen allegedly tortured 26-year-old Yingying Zhang before killing her. Her body hasn’t been found.

    Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin April.

    https://wgntv.com/2018/07/14/lawyers...t-of-evidence/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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