Min Chen (murder convict)

Min Chen (murder convict)

Min Chen (Simplified Chinese:陈敏; Traditional Chinese:陳敏; Hanyu Pinyin:Chén Mǐn) (born January 30, 1983[1]) is a Chinese visa student convicted of first-degree murder in the case of the death of Cecilia Zhang, originally missing for months and also known as Dong-Yue Zhang (張東嶽, Hanyu Pinyin: Zhāng Dōngyuè, March 30, 1994 — October 20, 2003).

Chen, a Shanghai native who has lived in Canada on a visa since 2001, allegedly entered Zhang's home through a kitchen window and removed her from her home between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM, leaving by a side door. According to police, Min Chen knew a female boarder who had lived at the Zhang home between September 2002 and March 2003 and had visited the Zhang home at least four times. Police said that Cecilia would have been comfortable in Chen's company under normal social circumstances. The remains of Dong-Yue Cecilia Zhang were found in a wooded area of Mississauga by the Credit River at Eglinton Avenue on Saturday, March 27, 2004.

At the time of Chen's kidnapping of Cecilia Zhang, Chen had already stopped his English studies at a Seneca College campus located very close to Cecilia's home in North York, Ontario. Chen also did not complete his Grade 12-level courses at a local private academy. Chen, whose father is an airline executive and whose mother is a Shanghai police officer, had been receiving money from his parents back in China.[2]

Min Chen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 9, 2006. According to an agreed statement of facts read out in a Brampton, Ontario courthouse, Chen was failing in his college studies and feared deportation back to his native China. Being a visa student who was broke, he desperately needed $25,000 to enter into a marriage of convenience as a means of obtaining the status of permanent resident in Canada. Cecilia's death was the result of Chen's poorly planned kidnapping during the early hours of October 20, 2003 at Cecilia's home. When Cecilia tried to scream, Chen covered her face with a towel and held his hand over her mouth. Cecilia had stopped struggling by the time Chen placed her inside the trunk of his car. When Chen checked on Cecilia later on, he discovered that she had stopped breathing.[3]

Chen was represented by well known criminal lawyer John Rosen, who had defended killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo.[4] Min Chen was sentenced to life imprisonment with a chance of parole after 15 years.

Human rights lawyers have noted that under Chinese law, when Chen has completed his sentence and is deported back to China, he will likely face a second trial and sentence in China. Canadian law forbids this practice, which is known as double jeopardy, while Chinese law permits it if a Chinese resident commits a crime on foreign soil. Trial and punishment in the other country is seen as a mitigating factor, but does not preclude further imprisonment or execution in the People's Republic of China.[5]

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Min Chen (computer scientist) — Min Chen Birth name Chen Min (陈敏) Origin Fuzhou, Jiangxi, China Genres Dancing …   Wikipedia

  • Min Chen — may refer to: Min Chen (biologist) Min Chen (computer scientist) Min Chen (murder convict) This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same personal name. If an …   Wikipedia

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

  • China — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. People s Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778; 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. 2. Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast …   Universalium

  • Dates of 2006 — ▪ 2007 January Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem. America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. U.S. Pres. George W. Bush, in his state of the union… …   Universalium

  • Death of Caylee Anthony — Memorial near where Caylee Anthony s remains were found Date …   Wikipedia

  • Calendar of 2001 — ▪ 2002 January America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught these principles …   Universalium

  • Pridi Banomyong — ปรีดี พนมยงค์ 7th Prime Minister of Thailand In office March 24, 1946 – August 23, 1946 Monarch Ananda Mahidol …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”