Brendt Christensen has never revealed the whereabouts of Yingying Zhang, whom he raped and then decapitated in IllinoisA US former doctoral student has been spared the death penalty for kidnapping and murdering a 26-year-old Chinese scholar, prompting widespread anger in China. Prosecutors had called for the death penalty, which Zhang’s family also supported, but after eight hours of deliberation, a jury in Peoria, Illinois, was unable to reach a unanimous decision. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brendt Christensen Photograph: APOthers reflected on how Christensen would have been treated in China, where thousands of prisoners are believed to be executed each year. Please let us bring Yingying home.”Among the most poignant testimony during the penalty phase came from Zhang’s mother, Lifeng Ye. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Yingying Zhang’s mother Lifeng Ye, second from left, is supported by family members outside the court in Peoria.

Source: The Guardian July 19, 2019 00:35 UTC