Defendant convicted of murder of USC student from China

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Superior Court announced Thursday that Andrew Garcia was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of a Chinese graduate student at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2014.

24-year-old Ji Xinran was attacked during an attempted robbery on July 24, 2014 when he was walking to his apartment from a study session. He was found dead the next morning.

Medical reports indicate that Ji suffered skull fractures, facial lacerations and a broken nose. Andrew Garcia and three co-defendants were charged with first-degree murder, second-degree robbery, second-degree attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

After five days of jury trial, the Court had a closing statement on Wednesday, where prosecutor John McKinney presented evidence including footage from surveillance cameras, autopsy report, DNA report and interrogation recordings.

"All the evidence have proved that Garcia is not only an aider, he is the perpetrator," Cai Wenhui, Ji's family attorney told Xinhua on Wednesday.

After about two hours of discussion on Thursday, the jury group of 12 made a decision that 21-year-old Garcia is guilty. He will face up to life in prison without parole. Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.