Queens, NY – Xiaoning Zhang has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of immigration lawyer Jim Li. The announcement was made by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Li was a prominent figure for his activism, notably during the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989.
District Attorney Katz explained that Li had initially taken on Zhang’s case pro bono for her asylum request. Zhang admitted to falsifying information on her application, prompting Li to discontinue his representation.
This dismissal led Zhang to return to Li’s office armed with two kitchen knives, stabbing him, resulting in his death.
Zhang, a 27-year-old from Kissena Boulevard in Flushing, was convicted by a jury last month. She faced charges of second-degree murder, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree menacing, obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and second-degree harassment. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder delivered the sentence.
The jury heard testimony that on March 11, 2022, Zhang caused a disturbance at Li’s office over a demand for removing her protest picture online. After admitting to lying on her asylum application, Li decided to cease his legal services.
