In-Laws Appear in Court for Killing of NYT Executive

Shili Chen, 77, and her husband Shouyong Zhang, 77, appeared together in court for the first time since their arrest in the fatal shooting of New York Times executive Jonathan McKinsey. The couple faces felony murder charges, with prosecutors alleging they used a firearm and "lied in wait" for McKinsey.

Chen and Zhang appeared in court Wednesday, with Chen speaking through a Mandarin interpreter to state she could not afford a lawyer. Her husband, Zhang, remained silent and waived his arraignment. Both defendants were denied bail and are represented by public defenders. They are scheduled to return to court Thursday for plea proceedings.

The charges were filed on September 30, the couple's shared birthday. According to charging documents, the pair allegedly fled the scene in a Honda Civic after McKinsey was shot. Witnesses assisted police in identifying and stopping their vehicle. Zhang later admitted to killing McKinsey during an interview with investigators, while Chen invoked her Miranda rights.

McKinsey, 40, was the head of engineering, Games Player Experience, at The New York Times. He was killed on Dublin Boulevard in the Bay Area. Prosecutors have also alleged charges related to the use of a weapon, violent conduct, infliction of great bodily injury, and intentional discharge of a firearm.