CA - Xuanyi Yu, Santa Clara, Murdered, January 2024

[Sundog]

I haven't seen anything on the news yet regarding today's scheduled plea hearing for Liren Chen in Santa Clara County Superior Court. I checked the case number and link online, but the Court's website is down. Will check again later, and by Monday (if not sooner) it should be updated. And maybe some news outlet will report on the hearing and the plea entered, if it actually took place today as scheduled.

 

[Sundog]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/liren-chen-home-sale-santa-clara-19470559.php

I wonder if the family of Xuanyi Yu will file a civil lawsuit against Liren Chen which I hope would tie up the proceeds from the sale of their house until the civil trial is over. Not sure how this would work, but I hope that Xuanyi's family is getting some good legal advise and representation.

 

[Sundog]

I haven't seen anything on the news yet regarding today's scheduled plea hearing for Liren Chen in Santa Clara County Superior Court. I checked the case number and link online, but the Court's website is down. Will check again later, and by Monday (if not sooner) it should be updated. And maybe some news outlet will report on the hearing and the plea entered, if it actually took place today as scheduled.

Replying to my own post to add that I finally was able to get access to the court calendar, and it looks like Liren Chen's plea hearing is now scheduled for October 4, 2024. I wonder why he hasn't yet entered a plea, as there have been a number of plea hearings scheduled but apparently no plea has been entered. At first it was because he was hospitalized and unable to appear, but eventually he did appear for his arraignment (he was wearing some kind of medical helmet over his head during that hearing). Not sure what is holding things up now. I haven't seen any coverage of this case in any of the news media for awhile now.

Justice is slow for Xuanyi.

 

[Sundog]

Liren Chen's plea hearing was scheduled for tomorrow, October 4th, in Santa Clara Criminal Court. I will check to see if it is still scheduled, there have been so many delays in this case. Hoping for justice for Xuanyi and that the wheels of that justice begin to turn soon.

Edited to add: I checked the website of the Santa Clara Criminal Court and the plea hearing is still scheduled for tomorrow, October 4th, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, 12 noon ET.

 

[Sundog]

I also see that a case for the Estate of Decedent Xuanyi Yu has been filed in Santa Clara Probate Court in March 2024, and the last entry on the probate case is dated August 21, 2024, so still looks like it is not settled, the last entry says that the request has been made to change legal representation. It looks like both a representative for Xuanyi and also for Liren Chen (husband who murdered Xuanyi) are involved in the probate case, as well as some credit card companies that are listed. Also, a probate referee was appointed in May of 2024, so it appears that the process is not going smoothly, which doesn't surprise me. But glad to know that Xuanyi appears to have representation for the settlement of her estate.

Public Portal - Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara

Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara Case Portal

traffic.scscourt.org

ETA: The above link doesn't work here, but if you look up the case of Liren Chen in the Criminal Court division, the case of the probate court on the Estate of Xuanyi Yu comes up as well, since it is linked to the name Liren Chen, that's how I found it.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Thank you @Sundog for bringing updates. I was just checking around yesterday to see if there was movement, but didn’t find anything. Appreciate this info. Sad case. Xuanyi deserved better than LC. May justice prevail.

 

[Sundog]

Plea hearing for Liren Chen that was scheduled to take place on October 4, 2024, has now been held over until January 10, 2025.

I'm guessing that he doesn't enter a plea due to psychiatric issues and that he has been deemed unfit to enter a plea at this time? Mentally and legally incompetent? Not sure how this would work, I guess if experts testify that a person is not mentally competent and he is hospitalized in a mental institution, then the person is not legally competent to enter a plea. Maybe that's why the plea hearing continues to be scheduled at regular intervals but keeps being held over.

 

[Sundog]

I just found this article on the law in California. Looks like LC could be held in a state hospital for "competency restoration" for up to two years and not enter a plea during that time if unfit to stand trial and enter a plea.

If a defendant is found to be incompetent to stand trial, they are ordered to attend a competency restoration program.

In California, that means that if they are charged with a misdemeanor, they will receive treatment in a county jail in a specialized competency restoration unit. In misdemeanor cases, they can be held in a county jail for up to 1 year for competency restoration.

If they are charged with a felony, they will be sent to a state hospital for competency restoration. In felony cases, the defendant has up to 2 years to become competent.

Once they are found to be competent, they will be returned to the county jail and the criminal proceedings will move forward.

If they are still incompetent to stand trial, they can be placed into either an LPS (Lanterman-Petris-Short) Conservatorship or Murphy Conservatorship.

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity vs. Incompetent to Stand Trial: What’s the Difference Between Them? | Verdugo Psychological Associates

The terms insanity and competency are two legal terms that come up often in the criminal justice system. There are several differences between them.

verdugopsych.com

 

[Sundog]

After further reading about California's "Murphy Conservatorship Statute," the way I understand it is that after two years if LC is not restored to competency according to court-appointed experts, then the defendant is acquitted of the charges, i.e. the charges are dropped. However, the state has the option, according to Murphy Conservative Statute, of seeking a long-term CIVIL commitment to a state instiution for an indiviudal deemed not competent to stand trial. But from what I am reading, this is used mostly for defendants who are a serious danger to others/society.

So in two years, if the court still finds that LC is not competent to stand trial, then it sounds like it is possible that LC could be released into his family's care as conservators (without a civil commitment by the courts) and his parents could arrange to have him returned to their home in the PRC. Unless, of course, the court orders a civil commitment to a state hospital and it is unclear how long such a civil commitment would be. Regardless, the felony murder charge would no longer exist, he would have been acquitted of that before a court-ordered civil commitment.

JMO.

 

[steeltowngirl]

After further reading about California's "Murphy Conservatorship Statute," the way I understand it is that after two years if LC is not restored to competency according to court-appointed experts, then the defendant is acquitted of the charges, i.e. the charges are dropped. However, the state has the option, according to Murphy Conservative Statute, of seeking a long-term CIVIL commitment to a state instiution for an indiviudal deemed not competent to stand trial. But from what I am reading, this is used mostly for defendants who are a serious danger to others/society.

So in two years, if the court still finds that LC is not competent to stand trial, then it sounds like it is possible that LC could be released into his family's care as conservators (without a civil commitment by the courts) and his parents could arrange to have him returned to their home in the PRC. Unless, of course, the court orders a civil commitment to a state hospital and it is unclear how long such a civil commitment would be. Regardless, the felony murder charge would no longer exist, he would have been acquitted of that before a court-ordered civil commitment.

JMO.

Can’t imagine how he would not be a danger to society.

jmo

 

[Sundog]

A plea hearing is scheduled for tomorrow in Santa Clara County Criminal Court for Liren Chen who murdered his wife, Xuanyi Yu, one year ago in December 2023. A number of plea hearings have been scheduled over the last year, since January 2024, but all of them were held over, initially due to LC's hospitalization after the murder, and it hasn't been stated why he still has not entered a plea in the case. We all assume it is due to his mental health situation, and he did appear in Court one time that we know of and was wearing some kind of protective helmet, presumably related to self-injuries to his head after he killed his wife.

A plea hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, January 10th at 1:30 p.m. (California time/Pacific time). So we'll see if the hearing is actually held and if LC enters a plea, or if the case is held over once again.

Justice is slow for Xuanyi Yu and her family.

 

[Sundog]

I just checked the case record for Liren Chen at the Santa Clara County Court, Criminal Division, and it looks like something must have happened this morning, because now a preliminary examination has been scheduled for June 23, 2025, at 8:55 a.m.

I did a google search and it seems that a "preliminary examination" in California is another term for a preliminary hearing/probable cause hearing), so I hope that will actually happen and that the next steps after the prelim will be the steps toward the setting of a trial date in the courts.

 

[Sundog]

It's sad that no one in the media is covering this case, even if only from time to time after scheduled court dates. I couldn't find anything on this case online in MSM.

According to my last post, a preliminary hearing is supposed to take place on June 23, 2025. There is also a "Duces Tecum" hearing scheduled for July 7th, which is apparently a hearing to determine the validity and scope of a subpoena. So I hope that means there is some movement now in this case.

Almost every scheduled court date has been rescheduled over and over during the last year and a half, so we'll see what happens on June 23rd, if the preliminary hearing takes place or not.

It's been a year and a half since Xuanyi Yu was murdered by her husband with his bare hands in their home in Santa Clara County, and still no justice for her and her family.

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

It's sad that no one in the media is covering this case, even if only from time to time after scheduled court dates. I couldn't find anything on this case online in MSM.

According to my last post, a preliminary hearing is supposed to take place on June 23, 2025. There is also a "Duces Tecum" hearing scheduled for July 7th, which is apparently a hearing to determine the validity and scope of a subpoena. So I hope that means there is some movement now in this case.

Almost every scheduled court date has been rescheduled over and over during the last year and a half, so we'll see what happens on June 23rd, if the preliminary hearing takes place or not.

It's been a year and a half since Xuanyi Yu was murdered by her husband with his bare hands in their home in Santa Clara County, and still no justice for her and her family.

It looks like Chen’s preliminary hearing did happen (or should have happened?) on 6-23 https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/newsroom/cases-media-interest

But to your point, it’s terrible that media interest, without social pressure, easily forgets or outright overlooks women of color, especially when they have clearly foreign names.

The absence of coverage surrounding a major court appointment is rather striking, especially after seeing the media frenzy when the “murder” house was listed and sold https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/a...ere-google-engineer-murdered-his-19731362.php

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

Can’t imagine how he would not be a danger to society.

jmo

California has a mental-health diversion statute outlining eligibility for pre-trial diversion https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-1001-36/

One recent case invoking this code involved a man who (intentionally?) drove off a cliff with his family in the car (all miraculously survived) and will not face prison time

California doctor who intentionally drove Tesla off cliff will not face trial

Dharmesh Patel was charged with attempted murder after he was accused of driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and children inside last year.

www.usatoday.com

So perhaps Chen is not a danger to “society”, just a danger to whomever he dates or marries

 

[Sundog]

It looks like Chen’s preliminary hearing did happen (or should have happened?) on 6-23 https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/newsroom/cases-media-interest

But to your point, it’s terrible that media interest, without social pressure, easily forgets or outright overlooks women of color, especially when they have clearly foreign names.

The absence of coverage surrounding a major court appointment is rather striking, especially after seeing the media frenzy when the “murder” house was listed and sold https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/a...ere-google-engineer-murdered-his-19731362.php

Part of the issue with lack of media coverage is that almost all of the court hearings over the last year have not been held, they have been carried over. One of the reasons is that it appears that LC has been hospitalized for much of this time (see earlier posts on this thread) and so the media may have lost interest since there was no movement in the case. It looks like the plea hearing took place in January, but we don't know yet if this week's preliminary hearing took place or not. There is a hearing scheduled for July 7th on the validity or scope of a subpoena. So some movement.

There were also a number of hearings over the last year in probate court as the estate of LC and XY was settled (see earlier posts).

Also, just a note about "foreign names." I was taken aback by seeing that reference. I have never thought of Chinese-American names as being foreign! Not wanting to be critical of your post, just pointing out that that surprised me.

 

[Sundog]

California has a mental-health diversion statute outlining eligibility for pre-trial diversion https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-1001-36/

One recent case invoking this code involved a man who (intentionally?) drove off a cliff with his family in the car (all miraculously survived) and will not face prison time

<Snipped for focus>

Yes, that was a very sad and tragic case.

California also has the "Murphy Conservatorship Statute" for defendants who are declared not competent to stand trial, so this may be the situation for LC, we don't know yet. I am bringing the information, below, over from an earlier post on this thread, below.

After further reading about California's "Murphy Conservatorship Statute," the way I understand it is that after two years if LC is not restored to competency according to court-appointed experts, then the defendant is acquitted of the charges, i.e. the charges are dropped. However, the state has the option, according to Murphy Conservative Statute, of seeking a long-term CIVIL commitment to a state instiution for an indiviudal deemed not competent to stand trial. But from what I am reading, this is used mostly for defendants who are a serious danger to others/society.

So in two years, if the court still finds that LC is not competent to stand trial, then it sounds like it is possible that LC could be released into his family's care as conservators (without a civil commitment by the courts) and his parents could arrange to have him returned to his parent's home in the PRC. Unless, of course, the court orders a civil commitment to a state hospital and it is unclear how long such a civil commitment would be. Regardless, the felony murder charge would no longer exist, he would have been acquitted of that before a court-ordered civil commitment. JMO.

Hopefully this year there will be some reporting on it by some media outlet in the Bay area. I'm guessing that Google is not really keen on having this story out in the news where one of their engineers was murdered at the hands of her husband, also a Google engineer.

 

[Sundog]

More on competency to stand trial restoration under California Law. Carrying this over from earlier post on this thread.

Looks like LC could be held in a state hospital for "competency restoration" for up to two years and not enter a plea during that time if unfit to stand trial and enter a plea.

If a defendant is found to be incompetent to stand trial, they are ordered to attend a competency restoration program.

In California, that means that if they are charged with a misdemeanor, they will receive treatment in a county jail in a specialized competency restoration unit. In misdemeanor cases, they can be held in a county jail for up to 1 year for competency restoration.

If they are charged with a felony, they will be sent to a state hospital for competency restoration. In felony cases, the defendant has up to 2 years to become competent.

Once they are found to be competent, they will be returned to the county jail and the criminal proceedings will move forward.

If they are still incompetent to stand trial, they can be placed into either an LPS (Lanterman-Petris-Short) Conservatorship or Murphy Conservatorship.

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity vs. Incompetent to Stand Trial: What’s the Difference Between Them? | Verdugo Psychological Associates​

The terms insanity and competency are two legal terms that come up often in the criminal justice system. There are several differences between them.

verdugopsych.com

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

Part of the issue with lack of media coverage is that almost all of the court hearings over the last year have not been held, they have been carried over. One of the reasons is that it appears that LC has been hospitalized for much of this time (see earlier posts on this thread) and so the media may have lost interest since there was no movement in the case. It looks like the plea hearing took place in January, but we don't know yet if this week's preliminary hearing took place or not. There is a hearing scheduled for July 7th on the validity or scope of a subpoena. So some movement.

There were also a number of hearings over the last year in probate court as the estate of LC and XY was settled (see earlier posts).

Also, just a note about "foreign names." I was taken aback by seeing that reference. I have never thought of Chinese-American names as being foreign! Not wanting to be critical of your post, just pointing out that that surprised me.

Oh my, I did not mean the "foreign name" comment to strike a chord that having a foreign name is negative in any way, and I am truly sorry if I misspoke. I am particularly sensitive to how I might come across on forums such as this, and I appreciate your candor and kindness.

To provide context, I have a very clearly foreign name that I kept when I immigrated and I did not adopt an Americanized nickname. I have many friends, however, who have opted to take on American names for practical purposes that I very much understand and relate to, in particular the desire to assimilate. Hence my feeling that if having a Western name makes you more relatable in life, it would also make you more relatable in death.

For such a sensational case, even the delays themselves, in my opinion, would have generated far more ongoing American media attention if Xuanyi were not a woman of color with a foreign name. I hope that makes sense what I'm trying convey here.

 

[Sundog]

Oh my, I did not mean the "foreign name" comment to strike a chord that having a foreign name is negative in any way, and I am truly sorry if I misspoke. I am particularly sensitive to how I might come across on forums such as this, and I appreciate your candor and kindness.

To provide context, I have a very clearly foreign name that I kept when I immigrated and I did not adopt an Americanized nickname. I have many friends, however, who have opted to take on American names for practical purposes that I very much understand and relate to, in particular the desire to assimilate. Hence my feeling that if having a Western name makes you more relatable in life, it would also make you more relatable in death.

For such a sensational case, even the delays themselves, in my opinion, would have generated far more ongoing American media attention if Xuanyi were not a woman of color with a foreign name. I hope that makes sense what I'm trying convey here.

It's not a problem, I appreciate your point of view.