Cecilia Zhang case update

[>:^|]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of nine-year-old Cecilia Zhang, Toronto police have confirmed.

Min Chen has been charged with first-degree murder. He is a Chinese national who has been on a student visa from Shanghai since 2001. His visa was to have expired next month.

Another person was arrested, a woman described as an "associate" of Chen's, but only Chen has been charged.

(I searched for the existing thread on this, but couldn't find it.)

[hooligan]

Wow. Thanks a lot, visage. : ( I'm really glad they caught the person (hopefully, the right person).

[Faithless]

Jesus fucking christ, Min, was it worth it?

Why is it so often the case that there is a connection between victim and murderer?

[mr. x]

s'bout damn time shit, just the other day i wondered if it was a cold case

[Faithless]

The woman associate of Chen will be treated as a witness.

http://cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/23/zhang_040723

The unidentified woman was questioned and will not face any criminal charges, said Peel Regional Police spokesperson Craig Platt on Friday.

She is being treated as a witness in the case.

.
Interesting side aspect: Did Police Chief Noel Catney taint the case by using accusatory words to describe Chen?

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...23/554317.html

The Peel Region's chief of police "completely disregarded the justice system" yesterday and may have jeopardized a fair trial in the Cecilia Zhang case, charged one of Canada's most prominent criminal lawyers. Toronto lawyer Eddie Greenspan said Police Chief Noel Catney was "way over the line" when he made controversial statements that are sure to have a lasting impact on the case.

"This is not just a murderer, this is the most despicable of criminals, this is a child murderer," Catney said at yesterday's press conference.

The comments were broadcast during TV and radio newscasts all afternoon and evening. None of the chief's statements have been proved in court.

Greenspan said Catney's assertion "crossed every line" and tainted a large part of the potential jury pool.

"It's extraordinary for a chief to say, 'This is the murderer. We don't need a trial, a jury or a judge, the person we arrested should go to jail for the rest of his life,' " Greenspan said.

"The man charged is entitled to the presumption of innocence. It's actually in our constitution but I guess the chief doesn't know that.
...

[PropellerheadCP]

The dude's face was plastered on the cover of every newspaper, in Toronto. I'm not saying whether or not he's innocent, but if he's not the guy, his life will be completely ruined anyway. The chief of police, held his picture to the public and said, "This is a child murderor". Is it even possible to get a fair trial after that?

Of course, a part of me wishes that he is, just because we all need closure and to know that there is some kind of justice that exist in such a tragic event.

[sandra]

how bizarre. why won't they release the motive? because there wasn't one? isn't it rare to have murder case with no motive? was he mentally insane? was he a sexual predator? so many unanswered questions - yet the chief is so set on sending the guy to prison for life.

[relus]

I read the newspaper here concerning the story.. they say the suspect's motive was due to money... He had gambled away his $$ that his parents sent him china so he kidnapped the girl and probably wanted ransom $$. So shameful. story here http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Toront...24/554935.html

[Banana]

Almost like the media's destruction of Scott Peterson's case when they plastered his face all over the place with a headline like this: "MONSTER MURDERER STANDS TRIAL!"

[Faithless]

I'm all for convicting and putting him away for good the guy if he's guilty.

But Jesus, don't let him get off on a stupid technicality, please!