QUEENS, N.Y.— A grand jury indicted Jiahai Ma for murder and weapon charges related to allegedly stabbing his wife to death at her workplace on September 3.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment, emphasizing the severity of the charges and the need for domestic violence support. Ma, a 25-year-old resident of Cherry Avenue in Flushing, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder. He faces charges of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
If convicted, Ma could receive a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. During the arraignment, Ma was remanded until his next court date on November 13.
According to the charges, Ma entered the spa at approximately 5:40 p.m. on September 3 and approached his wife, Guimei Tang. A verbal dispute escalated, and Ma allegedly stabbed Tang multiple times in the neck, chest, and arm.
Tang was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Ma remained at the scene, covered in what appeared to be blood, and was apprehended by the NYPD’s 109th Precinct.