Deceased/Not Found IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #8 *Arrest*

[kittythehare]

...she's still a missing person.

 

[kittythehare]

latest
Aaron Eades‏ @WCIA3Eades 2m2 minutes ago
UPDATE: 69 potential jurors qualified. Both legal teams say they're okay with that, but the judge has reservations. Court is in recess-- ongoing discussion about how to proceed. More potential jurors may be interviewed on Monday. #YingyingZhang @WCIA3

 

[MomminIt]

Hi everyone. Justice for Yingying. I feel the case rests on the testimony of the two women. Could Michelle defend her ex or crush the defense on cross, she did divorce him after all, so presumably she thinks he’s guilty? Could teb fall back into her submissive ways and strangely fill her stories with panic attacks or will she say her terror was from being so close to what she believed to be a murderer. Juries like evidence, what these women say will carry great weight imo.

 

[Webthrush]

Just my opinion, but I think some folks are overly-concerned about the outcome of trial… I think the Prosecution will have a slam-dunk case (at least as slam-dunk as a case without a body can be), and that’s why they can get it all in in 8 days, because the evidence won’t be convoluted or difficult but VERY clearcut and obvious for any jury.
Sure, Defense will try to poke holes or offer alternatives, but I think will only make themselves look foolish.
(Hope I’m right!)

 

[kittythehare]

explainer
today's session is done and the jury pool of 70 was not reached today. Just now two potential jurors were pre-approved over objection, putting the number at 69, one short of the goal. Check out my story on today's jury selection and next steps via @news_gazette
that goal was set to make sure lawyers from both sides had enough potential jurors to allow for 20 strikeouts each. Before adjourning for the day, Judge Shadid asked both sides if they'd be comfortable with fewer alternates
Both sides had no objections, but Shadid said "we'd be taking a risk" and "cutting it really close" since there have been several potential jurors who have come forward with hardships since being pre-approved
Regardless, the court will have to call in more jurors Monday morning to reach the threshold of 70 and be safe. The jury selection will re-start at 9 a.m. Monday, and the final jury should be chosen by the end of the day. Check out @bzigterman for full coverage of the trial
Source-Adalberto Toledo (@aldot29) | Twitter

 

[kittythehare]

YY is primarily a missing person case.
I don't care too much whether Christensen gets life or an injection. I have little interest in his welfare. I would not like to see him acquitted - I reckon he'd make a point of coming after his many detractors.
Today's revelation about the tapes did not elevate my spirits in any way regarding a sure-fire guilty verdict, but I know that we know very, little and my opinions are based upon speculating on the few meagre facts available to us. This trial is about Christensen.
If the trial proves without any shadow of a doubt that YY's body is 'unfindable' due to full and complete destruction, I will accept that hard truth.
Is she still a 'missing person' after that verdict?

Honestly, it's all I am interested in. My biggest fear is that she is 'out there somewhere', alone and that this trial may not provide us with any clue what actually he did with her when he finished 'using' her for his own benefit, as if she was a piece of disposable trash.
#FindYingYing.
So, even if he is found guilty and penalised appropriately it will be a very hollow victory without her body being returned to her poor parents before they return home to a life of emptiness, horror and pain they possibly can never integrate and thus become his victims too.

 

[kittythehare]

This is similar to an AP report I posted a few days ago
Jury Selection To Start In Trial Of Illinois Man In Missing Chinese Scholar Case
Of note in both reports is this single line
Her disappearance led to a weeklong search, which included help of more than 5,500 Chinese students at the school, which has more Chinese students than any other U.S. university

 

[kittythehare]

This is the most recent Exhibit List Exhibit List – #362 in United States v. Christensen (C.D. Ill., 2:17-cr-20037) – CourtListener.com
This is the original exhibit list, described as a haystack of needles by the defense in the same document
Lawyers for accused kidnapper overwhelmed by amount of evidence

 

[Webthrush]

In case it can be of any solace for some of you I’ve always loved this simple, famous Elizabeth Frye poem:
**************
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
**************
While I want to know what happened to YY, at this point, I honestly don’t care if her remains are found — I prefer to think of her being, her soul, her spirit, whatever, scattered back into nature and the world; her atoms being re-born in oak trees and eagles, in puppy dogs and butterflies, in clouds and blades of green grass….
This view won’t be popular, but I even find the ritual of locking dead people in wooden boxes for burial 6-ft. under almost grotesque and something we do solely for the benefit of the living, not truly for the dead. So in the event she is never recovered look out over the landscape and know that her essence is already out there somewhere, free; it is not in whatever cold skeletal remnants of her lay hidden from our sight (even though I realize those may bring her parents some solace).

 

[trunkizback]

YY is primarily a missing person case.
I don't care too much whether Christensen gets life or an injection. I have little interest in his welfare. I would not like to see him acquitted - I reckon he'd make a point of coming after his many detractors.
Today's revelation about the tapes did not elevate my spirits in any way regarding a sure-fire guilty verdict, but I know that we know very, little and my opinions are based upon speculating on the few meagre facts available to us. This trial is about Christensen.
If the trial proves without any shadow of a doubt that YY's body is 'unfindable' due to full and complete destruction, I will accept that hard truth.
Is she still a 'missing person' after that verdict?

Honestly, it's all I am interested in. My biggest fear is that she is 'out there somewhere', alone and that this trial may not provide us with any clue what actually he did with her when he finished 'using' her for his own benefit, as if she was a piece of disposable trash.
#FindYingYing.
So, even if he is found guilty and penalised appropriately it will be a very hollow victory without her body being returned to her poor parents before they return home to a life of emptiness, horror and pain they possibly can never integrate and thus become his victims too.

In the middle 70's a friend of mine from high school disappeared under strange circumstances. ( rumors of a drug deal gone bad ) Certain people were looked at, questioned..etc. But no one was ever arrested and his body was never found. I'm not positive, but I think after a certain amount of years he was declared legally dead. I was younger at the time and had never heard of that happening , but unfortunately it happens far more than you would think. I live in a small town close to Champaign IL. and in the years since this friend of mine disappeared, there has been 4 separate cases of women disappearing and have never been seen or heard from since. So tragic.

 

[trunkizback]

In case it can be of any solace for some of you I’ve always loved this simple, famous Elizabeth Frye poem:
**************
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
**************
While I want to know what happened to YY, at this point, I honestly don’t care if her remains are found — I prefer to think of her being, her soul, her spirit, whatever, scattered back into nature and the world; her atoms being re-born in oak trees and eagles, in puppy dogs and butterflies, in clouds and blades of green grass….
This view won’t be popular, but I even find the ritual of locking dead people in wooden boxes for burial 6-ft. under almost grotesque and something we do solely for the benefit of the living, not truly for the dead. So in the event she is never recovered look out over the landscape and know that her essence is already out there somewhere, free; it is not in whatever cold skeletal remnants of her lay hidden from our sight (even though I realize those may bring her parents some solace).

Incredibly well said. As such , this is one of the reasons that I, as well as many others, have decided on cremation.

 

[kittythehare]

In case it can be of any solace for some of you I’ve always loved this simple, famous Elizabeth Frye poem:
**************
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
**************
While I want to know what happened to YY, at this point, I honestly don’t care if her remains are found — I prefer to think of her being, her soul, her spirit, whatever, scattered back into nature and the world; her atoms being re-born in oak trees and eagles, in puppy dogs and butterflies, in clouds and blades of green grass….
This view won’t be popular, but I even find the ritual of locking dead people in wooden boxes for burial 6-ft. under almost grotesque and something we do solely for the benefit of the living, not truly for the dead. So in the event she is never recovered look out over the landscape and know that her essence is already out there somewhere, free; it is not in whatever cold skeletal remnants of her lay hidden from our sight (even though I realize those may bring her parents some solace).

That's truly beautiful @Webthrush and thanks for putting it here.
It's her parents I'm concerned for and her little brother trying to understand- everything. They feel the need to have her body for their reasons and I want that for them too. And I want it for HER, for YY- the dignity of returning home to her final resting place in her own familiar tradition.

 

[trunkizback]

I would not like to see him acquitted - I reckon he'd make a point of coming after his many detractors.

For what it's worth Kitty...IF...he were to be acquitted, I would hope that maybe he himself would " mysteriously " disappear as well!

 

[kittythehare]

I would not like to see him acquitted - I reckon he'd make a point of coming after his many detractors.

For what it's worth Kitty...IF...he were to be acquitted, I would hope that maybe he himself would " mysteriously " disappear as well!

to a lawyer-free zone..

 

[Laughing]

Cherry blossoms, Asian symbol of feminine strength & beauty.


Others will have to carry on Ms. Zhang's work of improving agriculture in China.

Cannot imagine how her family feels.

 

[kittythehare]

View attachment 188188

Cherry blossoms, Asian symbol of feminine strength & beauty.


Others will have to carry on Ms. Zhang's work of improving agriculture in China.

Cannot imagine how her family feels.

I keep thinking about them and wondering what level of care they are receiving? What will cushion them during this ordeal in a foreign language which adds substantially to the stress.
I like your image and thinking that maybe can send them this message through the ethers, it seems likely that is what YY would have done.

 

[YESorNO]

Christensen Trial, Day 5 | Initial jury selection one short, for now

06/08/2019

"URBANA — Though it seemed possible that pre-approval of potential jurors in the trial of accused kidnapper and killer Brendt Christensen would wrap up Friday, it will go on for another day....

U.S. Judge James Shadid and lawyers for the government and Christensen continued questioning potential jurors Friday, pre-approving 10 out of the 29 who appeared, bringing the total to 69 — one short of the goal that Shadid wanted to reach. His plan calls for the 70 who are pre-approved to be narrowed to 12 jurors and six alternates Monday, with opening statements set to begin Wednesday....

Jury selection will continue Monday morning."

Christensen Trial, Day 5 | Initial jury selection one short, for now

 

[dm92]

2:04 PM June 9th.

RIP Yingying.

You will have justice soon......

 

[kittythehare]

Christensen trial | Both sides utilizing consultants to try to stack jury
I've been a judge 31 years and never had a jury consultant," Judge Michael McCuskey said of cases he's presided over. "We've had national trials here over the years, had some high-level trials. ... It just isn't usual. Of course, this isn't a usual case.
In the case of Christensen, who was charged with kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang two years ago today, each side used a consultant last week during the lengthy questioning of jurors.
And when the pre-approved pool of about 70 potential jurors is narrowed Tuesday, the consultants will likely be advising attorneys on which ones to strike

Consultants brought in from Texas, New York
The use of jury consultants didn't come up until the final pretrial conference two weeks ago, when Assistant Federal Defender Elisabeth Pollock asked to be allowed to use one.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene Miller didn't object, but said that if the defense had a consultant, the prosecution would like one as well.

this!!!
"I told the prosecutors when they start asking a death-penalty question to stand between the juror and the accused and then turn semi-dramatically, while asking, 'Could you sentence that man to death?' and point at the defendant. The ones who look away are the ones the defense wants," Gilleland said. "There's little tricks, little things going on, that if you sit and watch (a lot of jury selections), you start to pick up on."
It's a long article.
It leaves me depressed.

 

[kittythehare]

2-Year Anniversary of Chinese Scholar’s Disappearance as Death-Penalty Case Begins