Trial starts in case of missing scholar

The trial of the accused kidnapper and killer of missing visiting Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying began with jury selection on Monday at a federal courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.  

Brendt Christensen, the 29-year-old former University of Illinois (UI) graduate, who appeared in court on Monday, could face the death penalty if convicted. Besides the charge of kidnapping resulting in death, he also faces a capital murder count, as well as two counts of making false statements to the FBI.

On Monday, US District Judge James Shadid and attorneys for both sides started the process of choosing 12 jurors and six alternates who will hear the case.

Jury selection is expected to last at least a week. Once the 18 jury members are selected, a regular trial will be held to determine whether Christensen is guilty of kidnapping resulting in Zhang's death.

If the jury reaches a unanimous guilty verdict, the trial will then move to a sentencing phase. The jury then would have to unanimously agree that Christensen deserves the death penalty. If even one juror does not agree, he would be sentenced to life in prison.

"Sixteen potential jurors were called in this morning," Wang Zhidong, a Chicago lawyer who has been helping the Zhang family, told China Daily. "The judge explained the process to them and asked them many questions."

About half of the questions dealt specifically with the death penalty, including whether any jurors had strong opinions about it or whether they would feel precluded from imposing it due to religious beliefs, according to local media outlet WTTW.

"The process is based on honesty, and the goal is to choose qualified jury members without bias," Wang said. "The morning's selection process finished at 2:45 pm, and the result is that seven pre-approved jurors were selected."

According to Wang, 70 potential jurors of an initial pool of about 475 will need to be pre-approved during the first part of the selection process. Then, the defense and prosecution can each dismiss any 20 without giving a reason.

Prosecutors say Christensen tricked or forced 26-year-old Zhang into his car in June 2017. He has pleaded not guilty. Zhang was last seen on June 9, 2017, and her body has never been found.

In court filings a week before the trial, prosecutors indicated that among the evidence they want to show jurors is a carpet with an apparent bloodstain, from Christensen's bedroom, a baseball bat that was in the bedroom, and a copy of the novel American Psycho that they say Christensen gave to an acquaintance.

Zhang's father Zhang Ronggao, mother Ye Lifeng and brother Zhang Yangyang made the trip back to Illinois last week for the trial. And Zhang's parents attended court on Monday. Zhang's father was in the main courtroom in Peoria, while her mother watched from an overflow room, according to Wang.

Steve Beckett, an Urbana-Illinoisbased attorney representing Zhang's family, told the WTTW that Zhang's family wants to believe that she is still alive, even though law enforcement has told them that they believe Zhang is no longer alive.