The Northern California woman charged alongside her husband in the killing of their son-in-law plans to plead not guilty, her attorney said Thursday. The defense will focus on alleged abuse perpetrated by the victim, Jonathan McKinsey.
Shili Chen and her husband, Shouyong Zhang, both 77, were charged with murder after authorities allege they both shot McKinsey, 40, to death on Saturday in a public park. The killing occurred days before McKinsey and the couple's daughter were scheduled for a hearing in a contentious divorce and custody case.
Curtis Briggs, Chen's court-appointed attorney, stated that court documents indicate McKinsey was "extremely violent and dangerous to his family."
Jennie Otis, Zhang's public defender, requested a medical evaluation for her client, though she did not specify the reason. Both Chen and Zhang required Mandarin interpreters in court.
McKinsey, a gaming engineer for The New York Times, was killed in the parking lot of a sports complex in Dublin, California. A police sergeant on patrol witnessed the incident and saw McKinsey on the ground as witnesses pointed out the couple in their nearby vehicle. Police detained the couple and found a gun in Chen's possession. Prosecutors said Zhang admitted to shooting McKinsey and that another firearm was recovered from the car.
Surveillance video also reportedly shows both Chen and Zhang shooting McKinsey, according to prosecutors.
Court records reveal the killing took place amid a bitter divorce and custody battle between McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang, over their three young children. Petitions for restraining orders filed last year by both parties detailed accusations of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse dating back over a decade. McKinsey, who is transgender, alleged that both Jang and her parents were verbally and physically abusive concerning his gender transition.
McKinsey had been arrested in October on charges of misdemeanor child abuse for allegedly hitting their oldest son and endangering their youngest child by leaving them home alone. He pleaded not guilty to these charges and alleged he had been set up by his wife. At the time of his death, McKinsey was out on bail and seeking entry into a mental health diversion program. Jang had also obtained a domestic violence protection order against McKinsey in October.