Second week in sentencing phase of Brendt Christensen’s trial begins
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 18, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
The sentencing phase of Brendt Christensen’s trial continued Monday, even after one attorney told the jury that the counsel will not deny Christensen killed visiting scholar, Yingying Zhang. Since the sentencing phase began last Wednesday, several witnesses have testified and evidence has been brought...
Events leading up to Yingying Zhang’s disappearance explained in opening statements
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 12, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
After nine witness testimonies and the defense telling the jury they won’t deny the fact that Brendt Christensen is responsible for the death of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang, the court adjourned at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Four University of Illinois Police Department officers testified in...
Brendt Christensen’s lawyers acknowledge he killed Yingying Zhang
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 12, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
Opening statements for the accused kidnapper and murderer of visiting scholar, Yingying Zhang began Wednesday morning. Christensen’s defense attorney, George Taseff, said the defense acknowledges Christensen’s responsibility in Zhang’s death. “Brendt Christensen is responsible for the death...
Jury for Brendt Christensen’s trial will be seated by Tuesday
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 10, 2019
Filed under Crime, News, Showcase
Opening statements for Brendt Christensen’s trial will begin Wednesday. Christensen is the alleged kidnapper and killer of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang and is being charged by the federal government for kidnapping resulting in death. Christensen is also facing two nonfederal charges for giving...
Fire near apartment building causes power loss, resident displacement
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 9, 2019
Filed under Around Campus, Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
A resident of an apartment building on Green Street discovered and reported a fire Saturday around 11:56 p.m. According to a City of Champaign press release, firefighters found flames in the back of the apartment building located at 509 E. Green St. The flames extended to the building’s electric m...
Court needs only 12 more jurors to qualify for Brendt Christensen’s trial
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 6, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News, Showcase
Fifteen potential jurors came into court for questioning Thursday morning and 16 were questioned that same afternoon for the trial of Brendt Christensen, alleged kidnapper and killer of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang. The fourth day of jury questioning ended with a total of 58 qualified jurors. Six...
Opening statements in Brendt Christensen’s trial predicted to begin Wednesday
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 5, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News, Showcase
Day three of jury selection in Brendt Christensen’s trial included groups of 14 jurors in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Six of the potential jurors qualified from the morning group and two qualified in the afternoon, bringing the total up to 45 potential jurors of the 70 needed before c...
Day two of jury selection ends with 24 more potential jurors
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 4, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
The second day of jury selection ended Tuesday with 24 jurors total added to the pool from Monday. Sixteen jurors were brought in for both the morning and afternoon sessions. Nine jurors were qualified in the morning, and 15 qualified in the afternoon. After 70 jurors qualify, both sides will “stri...
Christensen’s trial begins with first round of jury selection
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
June 3, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News, Showcase, State, Top Stories
Yingying Zhang’s mother, Lifeng Ye, sat four rows back in the courtroom gallery as the jury selection process for her daughter’s alleged kidnapper started on Monday. The formal charges against Brendt Christensen by the federal government are kidnapping resulting in death. Additionally, two noncapital...
Suspect in overnight shooting surrenders
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
May 23, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
The 15-year-old suspect in recent overnight shootings surrendered to Champaign County Juvenile Detention Services Tuesday at around 4:40 a.m., according to a Champaign Police press release. According to reports, police responded to the residence in the 1600 block of Hedge Road around 1:30 a.m. on May 11...
Police search for suspect in overnight shooting
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
May 18, 2019
Filed under Champaign-Urbana, Crime, News
After 14-year-old Elijah Booker succumbed to life-threatening injuries from apparent gunshot wounds last week, the Champaign County State’s Attorney filed a petition for the suspect in juvenile court on the charges of manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon. According to a Champaign Police press release, pr...
The Daily Illini police blotter for May 16
By The Daily Illini staff report
May 17, 2019
Filed under Crime, News, Police Blotter
Champaign Identity theft was reported in the 200 block of East Springfield Avenue around 4 p.m. Saturday. According to the report, unauthorized accounts were opened in the victim’s name. Deceptive practices and forgery were reported in the 100 block of West Church Street around 12:30 p.m. Wed...
