On September 17th, the sixth day of the trial of the case involving the killing of New York prominent lawyer, Lee Jinjin, by Zhang Xiaoning, the defendant took the stand and revealed more about her “personal background.” Zhang Xiaoning admitted to stabbing Lee Jinjin with a knife but remained evasive about the reasons for the murder. Discrepancies arose between her testimony regarding the tools used in the crime and the police body camera footage, alongside the testimonies of witnesses from Lee Jinjin’s law office.
During the trial, Zhang Xiaoning claimed she does not suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, contrary to the defense psychiatrist Eric Goldsmith’s assertion that she has a spectrum disorder related to schizophrenia. He based his diagnosis on medical records provided by Zhang Xiaoning’s sister from China, although he could not confirm who translated the records into English or whether they were written by Zhang Xiaoning’s sister.
In her testimony, Zhang Xiaoning appeared articulate and responsive, yet she sidestepped questions that were unfavorable to her. She denied strangling Lee Jinjin and disputed the ownership of the knife used in the crime, claiming that a knife found in her jacket belonged to her but not the 9-inch knife allegedly used in the stabbing, suggesting it was initially on Lee Jinjin’s office desk. However, inconsistencies emerged when the prosecutor challenged her multiple versions of events related to the knife.
Regarding the sequence of events, Zhang admitted to stabbing Lee Jinjin but contested the number of stabs, claiming uncertainty about stabbing him four times and suggesting she might have stabbed him three times on his left side, including his shoulder. She described a struggle between them resulting in both falling to the ground before two individuals entered Lee Jinjin’s office, leaving him without aid. She expressed feeling shocked by the situation.
When asked why she came to the United States, Zhang initially mentioned seeking asylum but clarified later that she applied for a specific group asylum due to being diagnosed with depression and anxiety in China. She recounted an incident in 2019 where Beijing police forcibly detained her for 16 hours under the pretense of her depression during a conflict.
The prosecution revealed that Zhang entered the U.S. in August 2021 on a student visa but did not attend the University of Los Angeles, as indicated. Details emerged of her online relationship with a man named Yi Liu, leading to complaints to the police by Liu in November 2019 after Zhang’s persistent attempts to contact him. Zhang acknowledged undergoing psychiatric evaluations and divulged to several individuals her alleged rape by Beijing police.
Zhang admitted to approaching Lee Jinjin for legal representation in her asylum case and for removing protest photos from a UN event in September 2021. She expressed disappointment when Lee Jinjin declined to represent her, feeling unjust and exhausted. Her defense lawyer inquired about the motive behind the attack, to which Zhang evaded by expressing regret and exhaustion at the time of the incident.
Before Zhang’s testimony, the judge denied the defense’s motion to withdraw the case, citing strong evidence suggesting Zhang entered Lee Jinjin’s office carrying pastries, engaged with him, and subsequently attacked him with a knife. Despite claims of mental illness and time travel by Zhang, the court found insufficient evidence of her insanity. The court postponed the decision on Zhang’s motion to dismiss the case.