NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A woman was sentenced on to 25 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of an immigration lawyer who refused to continue representing her days before, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
Xiaoning Zhang, 27, of Flushing, was found guilty by a jury last month of murder, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing in the third degree, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment.
The victim, Jim Li, 66, was well known for his legal work and activism during the Tiananmen Square uprising in China in 1989.
According to trial testimony, on March 11, 2022, police responded to Jim Li's Flushing law office on 39th Avenue office in Flushing, regarding a disturbance. Zhang demanded that Li, who was handling her asylum request, also work to have a picture of her at a protest in front of the United Nations removed from the internet. Li told her he would not do that and Zhang became enraged.
Zhang also told Li that she had lied on her asylum application about being raped by Beijing police in China. The attorney then told the woman he would no longer represent her in the immigration matter.
She was also told to leave the law office, but refused, and according to trial testimony, she reacted by putting her hands around Li's neck and choking him, prosecutors said.
Police were called and escorted the Zhang from the building and told her not to return.
Three days later, on March 14, 2022, Zhang went back to Li's law office armed with a paring knife and a larger kitchen knife.
She confronted Li and suddenly began stabbing him in his chest and neck. An office worker was able to restrain Zhang until police arrived.
Li was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Jim Li was an activist in China and became a well-regarded immigration attorney here in the United States, where he represented those seeking political asylum. Li agreed to represent defendant Xiaoning Zhang pro bono in her case, until she admitted to lying on her application and he subsequently dropped her as a client," DA Katz said.
"Zhang could not accept this and days after being told never to return to the law office, she came back armed with two kitchen knives. She violently and viciously stabbed Li, killing him. A jury convicted Zhang and today a judge sentenced her to the maximum penalty under law. It is our hope that with this sentencing, the family, loved ones and legal community can find some solace in knowing the defendant has been held accountable for her crimes," she added.
