Trial begins in case of former University of Illinois teaching assistant accused of kidnapping and killing a young Chinese visiting scholar. If convicted, the man could be sentenced to death.
Monday marks the first day of the long-awaited trial of Brendt Christensen, a former teaching assistant at the University of Illinois accused of kidnapping and killing a young Chinese visiting scholar.Yingying Zhang, 27, was seen entering a black Saturn Astra on June 9, 2017 -- only a few yards away from a bus stop outside the university's PBS radio and television station. The young agriculture researcher was never seen or heard from again.
Last Tuesday, prosecutors submitted a laundry list of evidence they could enter during the trial. Included on the list were items investigators seized from Christensen's apartment, including a baseball bat, a roll of duct tape and a large"Super Tough Heavyweight" duffel bag. Also listed were multiple wiretap recordings of conversations between Christensen and his then-girlfriend, who court filings say agreed to work with the FBI as an undercover informant.
Zhang's family arrived in Urbana, Illinois early last week. Prior to their arrival, ABC News met her family in their hometown of Nanping, located in China's Fujian Province. Her mother, Lifeng Ye, described her reaction the moment she heard Christensen was arrested for Zhang's kidnapping.Upon news of her disappearance in 2017, Zhang's family stayed in Urbana for months on end, living off money raised by the university and a local GoFundMe page.
"When the trial starts I just hope it turns out he didn't kill my daughter," she said."I hope he would give my daughter back to me."
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Illinois man set for trial in missing Chinese scholar caseA former University of Illinois graduate student is set to stand trial in the 2017 disappearance and suspected killing of a visiting scholar from China.
Read more »
Donald Trump's impeachment trial 'would be disposed of very quickly,' says Lindsey GrahamAny attempt by House Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump would likely be shot down by a short trial in the GOP-controlled Senate, suggested Senator Lindsey Graham.
Read more »
Spotlight on Oklahoma for start of trial for opioid makersOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma is poised to become the first state to go to trial in a lawsuit against the makers of pharmaceuticals blamed for contributing to the nation's opioid crisis.
Read more »
Johnson & Johnson, Oklahoma Spar in Opioid TrialOklahoma is seeking to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for widespread opioid addiction in a closely watched trial
Read more »
Historic trial testing Big Pharma's accountability for opioid epidemic to enter second dayThe Oklahoma trial is the first major trial of nearly 2,000 cases around the country in which states, cities and hard-hit local municipalities are seeking to hold opioid makers accountable for the epidemic that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans dead, and strapped resources in every state.
Read more »
Oklahoma at trial says J&J's deceptive marketing fueled U.S. opioid crisisThe state of Oklahoma accused Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday of using deceptive ma...
Read more »
Historic opioid trial against Johnson & Johnson kicks off in OklahomaOklahoma faces off in court against Johnson & Johnson in the first major case against an opioid maker to go to trial.
Read more »
Nation's first opioid trial could set precedent for massive pharma payoutsA trial kicking off in Norman, Oklahoma, on Tuesday will provide an unprecedented examination of how the country spiraled into a devastating opioid epidemic
Read more »
Drugmaker J&J heads to trial in opioid case - Reuters TVThe state of Oklahoma is set to take drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson to trial, Tuesday, over claims it engaged in deceptive marketing that contributed to the opioid epidemic. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said it had agreed to pay an $85 million settlement with the state, avoiding trial.
Read more »
Historic trial tests whether big pharma can be held accountable for opioid epidemicThe Oklahoma trial is the first major trial of nearly 2,000 cases around the country in which states, cities and hard-hit local municipalities are seeking to hold opioid makers accountable for the epidemic that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans dead, and strapped resources in every state.
Read more »
UK PM candidate Boris Johnson to face court over Brexit commentsBoris Johnson, the favorite to replace Theresa May as British prime minister, mu...
Read more »