A public defender entered a “not guilty” plea Wednesday for Brendt Christensen, the 28-year-old man accused of kidnapping and killing Yingying Zhang. The brief arraignment hearing before Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long at the federal courthouse in Urbana came after an emotional outburst from Yingying’s mother.
UPDATE: An Oct. 11 arraignment date has been set for Brendt Christensen, after a federal grand jury returned a new indictment accusing the alleged kidnapper of Yingying Zhang of murdering her as well.
The man accused of kidnapping U of I visiting scholar Yingying Zhang has new lawyers representing him, after prosecutors told the judge new charges could include the death penalty.
Lawyers for Brendt Christensen, the 27-year-old man accused of kidnapping Yingying Zhang, are asking a judge’s permission to withdraw from the case.
A federal judge in Urbana has postponed until February the trial of the man accused of kidnapping U of I visiting scholar Yingying Zhang. The trial of Brendt Christensen is now scheduled to begin on February 27, 2018.
