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

[Tiger Stripes]

IMVHO, to try and eliminate part, if not all, of the jailhouse informant's testimony against BC. To possibly weaken the case against him.

I don't think BC will walk. I am hoping and praying if a plea deal is struck, it includes the location of YYZ's remains.

And, thanks again to All for the updates and document links.

Prayers for justice for YYZ.

(BBM by me)
"Plea deal..."??! Hoping not that...

Joining with @crhedBngr and others in praying for justice for YYZ. JMOO.

 

[dm92]

I don’t know, but I think the only way he could get a deal is if he can lead them to her body.

They tried to get a deal last year. I forget the filing # on the docket, but the line they used was describing what they had done as "attempts to resolve the matter short of a sentence of death."

Her parents want the death penalty, but I have read that they would be willing to trade life in prison for her body. I am assuming that is what the prosecutors were demanding he give them. I can't imagine any deal being made that wouldn't include the location of her remains.

 

[kittythehare]

108 is the defense trying to get "Other serious acts of violence" thrown out as a non-statutory aggravator -in other words, MD's claimed sexual assault.

238 and 351 were filed by the Defense, so this seems like it might be bad news in regards to use of MD's claims by the prosecution.....

Both sealed.. could be the dog? the redacted march tapes?
Defense are getting a helluva lotta breaks in this case.
Damnit, my kingdom for a witness list or two.

 

[dm92]

Both sealed.. could be the dog? the redacted march tapes?
Defense are getting a helluva lotta breaks in this case.
Damnit, my kingdom for a witness list or two.

They probably have to do with the prior sexual assault alleged by MD, as Shadid granting these sealed motions made moot the defense's motion to throw out "Other serious acts of violence" as a non-statutory aggravator.

 

[kittythehare]

102 and 116 are denied with written order to follow; Sealed 238 and sealed 351 are granted, and therefore, Motion 108 moot; Sealed 350 is granted in part and denied in part; 353 is denied; 369 is granted, subject to a limiting instruction
EXACT text.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, June 5th:
*Trial continues-Jury Selection (Day 3) (@ 9am ET) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017, Urbana; not found) - *Brendt A. Christensen (28) indicted (6/30/17) on kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying & 2 counts of giving false statements to FBI. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/3/19 with jury selection & will probably take 1 week. Trial should last about 5 weeks.
6/3/19 Day 1: Judge Shadid started the process of picking 12 jurors & 6 alternates. Jury selection: first group of 16 questioned this morning. After being questioned in open court, they were brought into the judge's chambers for individual questioning. They completed initial screening of 29 jurors today, so far 13 have been pre-approved to move on to the next round. Once they get up to 70 pre-approved jurors, they will go to the next stage, which is selecting the 12 jurors and 6 alternates from this pool of 70. Jury selection will continue on 6/4.
6/4/19 Day 2: Another 9 jurors pre-approved, bringing total to 22. Two were approved over objections. Now up to 37 pre-qualified jurors. Jury selection continues to 6/5.

 

[kittythehare]

Jury selection "a very difficult experience" for Yingying's family

URBANA, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — Brokenhearted and thousands of miles from home, the family of missing University of Illinois visiting scholar Yingying Zhang was at the Federal Courthouse in Urbana Tuesday morning to watch day two of jury selection in the case against their daughter’s accused kidnapper and killer Brendt Christensen

With the assistance of an interpreter, Beckett said he’s doing all he can to translate and explain the jury selection proceedings to the family who arrived last week from China to attend the trial.

“The family doesn’t know the American criminal justice system and they need to understand why things are happening, so I try to help,” Beckett said.

 

[dm92]

102 and 116 are denied with written order to follow; Sealed 238 and sealed 351 are granted, and therefore, Motion 108 moot; Sealed 350 is granted in part and denied in part; 353 is denied; 369 is granted, subject to a limiting instruction
EXACT text.

I am talking about 238 and 351. they obviously impact 108, so they are not about the dog or the march. 369 is about the transcripts of audio recordings. 350 is the only one it isn't clear what it pertains to....

 

[kittythehare]

WHY is the witness list not published yet?
If Judge read it out, and he allegedly did, how come no media have published it?
It is no longer a secret.

 

[kittythehare]

Chinese student enrollment at University of Illinois takes hit
interesting. seems to be affected by murder of YY

 

[dm92]

Chinese student enrollment at University of Illinois takes hit
interesting. seems to be affected by murder of YY

It’s down approximately 2%. Not a massive hit, and mostly due to visa issues.

 

[kittythehare]

Christensen trial, Day 2 | Jury-selection process about halfway done

 

[kittythehare]

Today's tweets...

1. 
   
   The prequalified pool would be narrowed to 12 jurors and six alternates Monday afternoon, then a break Tuesday. (2/4)
   
   1 reply0 retweets0 likes
   
   Show this thread
2. 
   Ben Zigterman‏ @bzigterman 2h2 hours ago
   Judge Shadid said opening statements will likely be next Wednesday. (1/4)
   
   1 reply2 retweets2 likes
   
   
   1. 
      
      Also: prosecutors said they think they can make their case in 8 days or less and hope to finish by Friday, June 21. Then defense would make their case, then closing statements,and then jurors would deliberate
      
      0 replies0 retweets1 like
      
      Show this thread
   2. 
      Ben Zigterman‏ @bzigterman 2h2 hours ago
      Now individual questioning in judge's chambers (4/4)
      
      1 reply0 retweets0 likes
      
      Show this thread
   3. 
      Ben Zigterman‏ @bzigterman 2h2 hours ago
      Group of 14 questioned this morning. Two excused off the bat for hardships.
      
   
   Show this thread

 

[kittythehare]

@WCIA3Eades
Christensen trial-- jury selection day 3: Opening statements scheduled for 9 AM on Wednesday June 12. Liason says family of #YingYingZhang is stressed and staying home today. @WCIA3

 

[kittythehare]

Re post yesterday from CourtListener.
Does anybody remember the furry animal Christensen had been accused of hurting?
Defense applied to have it chucked. I wonder whether that might be one of the things he gave them? (I think he gave them too much)

 

[dm92]

@WCIA3Eades
Christensen trial-- jury selection day 3: Opening statements scheduled for 9 AM on Wednesday June 12. Liason says family of #YingYingZhang is stressed and staying home today. @WCIA3

Her poor family. It is only going to get harder from here. If they are stressed now.......

 

[dm92]

Re post yesterday from CourtListener.
Does anybody remember the furry animal Christensen had been accused of hurting?
Defense applied to have it chucked. I wonder whether that might be one of the things he gave them? (I think he gave them too much)

It was a Guinea Pig. I hope that is what at issue and not MD. I think they would have no trouble getting a guilty verdict without MD, but death penalty would be harder to get....

 

[kittythehare]

I've been thinking about the death penalty. Christensen. We want justice for YY, but on a level are we not entering the domain of whatever dark energies caused her death by wishing awfulness on him?
This tweet struck me today, off topic completely but worthy of mentioning because it stopped me in my tracks
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter

The last DP case I followed was Dylan Roof and Charleston.
This arrived today in a tweet.
Forgiveness After A Massacre In Charleston | WAMU
Maybe I'm seeking to find my own catharsis before the trial starts proper.
It's not going in the way of peace for me this case has left me unsettled.
I'm interested in others' opinions on the death penalty in general or specifically.
I'm against it. Yet I'm almost defending it in this case. I'm way off my axis.

 

[Webthrush]

Her poor family. It is only going to get harder from here. If they are stressed now.......

agreed, I almost wish they hadn't come here to witness the trial, it is going to be so devastating for them... a few days ago it was reported that YY's mom still believes she is alive and wants BC to tell where... I don't see how she'll get through the cold testimony to come.

 

[altojack]

Her poor family. It is only going to get harder from here. If they are stressed now.......

I can't bare to think too far ahead on this but it's bound to cause more stress each and every day. The young brother there too, he's going to find this extremely difficult to sit through.

I haven't given much thought about Jury selection, I've spent days in a whirlpool of heartache for her family and how they must be feeling.