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Updated Information (by Jun Li)
11.29.1999 | 07.07.2000 | 07.13.2000
| 07.18.2000
11.29.1999
Hi, All,
As you all know, today at 1:30-2:30 pm there is a brief arraignment
of the alleged murder of Ms Wu Xiaoying. Due to the late announcement
about this, only about 10 Chinese students presented in the court.
However, this is only the beginning of the long procedure.
Today's arraignment has decided that he will be held in the jail
without releasing on parole by paying a bond. He has plead "not
guilty" today, which is surprising but kind of routine. This
result will probably be reported tonight at NBC (Channel 4).
Based on our understanding, the next step will be the assignment
of prosecutors, setting up of the jury, and the trial. If the two
side decide to accept a "plea bargain", there will be
no trial if he pleas guilty. In such case, a certain amount of years
in jail will be "bargained".
If a "plea bargain" can not be reached, there will be
a trial on probably end of January or early February. There will
be only one trail, which can last from one day to a few weeks. The
results will depend upon the decision of the jury, which could be
anything from 20 year to death penalty or even releasing (if not
guilty).
All the future trials can be attended by anyone, including any Chinese
who want to attend, although those who will testify cannot be in
the public gallery.
Victim's families can employ an attorney (although not required)
to pursue further charges or taking care more details of the case.
Those families can make a statement to the judge, which could be
helpful to the final decision of the trial. The victims families
are allowed to attend the trials and other arraignment.
This is what I heard today from the court. Please correct me if
it is not accurate or wrong.
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07.07.2000
The "plea bargain" procedure of Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying's case started
today at 11:40 am and ended at 12:20 pm in the Franklin Court Room
6B.
The defendant, Tyson Brooks, plead guilty in the three terms
of charges. Here is a summary of the procedure:
- The two prosecutors, representing the State of Ohio, provided
detailed descriptions of homicide crime on 11/18/1999 in the Riverview
Drive.
- Some evidences and several witnesss' testimonies as well as
an interview tape of the defendant were presented.
- Based on these evidences, the defendant was accused of (a) aggravated
murder, (b) aggravated rubbery, and (c) illegally possessing a
gun.
- The defendant, accompanied by his two lawyers, plead guilty
of these charges and waived the right to go through a trial and
to have a juror so that he could get a sentence among the three
possibilities: (a) life-time in prison, (b) life-time without
parole for 30 years, (c) life-time without parole for 25 years.
This is basically the result of a plea bargain.
- The final sentence will be decided by the three judges and will
be announced sometime soon, hopefully mid-July.
There are about 20 Chinese people attended today's court procedure,
while many who cannot attend it have expressed their concern of
this case. The attending of the couple of the 4-Sea Chinese store
owner was particularly moving because they not only sponsored the
funeral but also was in today's court while they were so busy in
their business. Anyway, thank you all for your care and your support!
Reporters from NBC-4 (Channel 4) and Columbus Dispatch were present
at today's case. The case probably will be reported at the news
tonight (6 pm or 11 pm) at NBC-4.
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07.13.2000
Dear Friends,
Thank you all for your concern of Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying's case. Many
of you have attended the previous court procedures of this case
or showed your great care to this tragedy. Your support and your
kindness to the victim's family are greatly appreciated.
I am writing to inform you that the sentence of this case will
be carried out next Tuesday. Here is the detailed information:
(1) Event: Sentence of the murder of Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying
(2) Time: 9:00 am, July 18, 2000 Tuesday
(3) Place: Court Room 6B (6th floor, Court B), Franklin Court,
369 South High Street
(4) Transportation: Cota bus (No. 2) on High street (free for OSU
students)
Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying's mother has arrived at Columbus, particularly
for this event, and Mr. Pan Bao-Cheng and his son will be attending
this sentence. In order to show our great respect to Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying
and to show our sympathy and support to her family, please make
your greatest effort to attend this event. This will definitely
be the last one of this whole case, and the last chance for the
Chinese community at Columbus to show our concern of this unfortunate
event. Thank you in advance for your attention.
Back to Top
07.18.2000
Dear Friends,
Ms. Wu Xiao-Ying's
case has been completed today at 4:45 pm. The murderer, Tyson Brooks,
has been sentenced to life sentence without parole for 33 years.
That is, he will not have a chance to get out of the jail before
having served 33 years there. After 33 years, a parole board will
review his case again to decide whether he will be given a parole.
The sentence today is the final, unless the defendant decide to
appeal, but that's not the case so far.
Today's procedure
started at 9:25 am and ended at 4:45 pm, with a break at lunch time.
Based on the plea bargain that was settled on July 4, 2000, the
defendant was convicted as being guilty of aggravated murder, rubbery
and illegally possessing a gun. Today's procedure focuses on how
to decide the sentence terms, among death penalty, life-sentence
without parole, to life-sentence without parole for 25 or 30 years.
The lawyer of Tyson Brooks started to argue that the defendant had
been in a miserable life and family and how troubling he was in
school and during his teens as well as how "sorry" he was and how
"honest" and "kind" he was after the crime. As a result, their argument
was that Tyson Brooks committed the crime in a circumstances that
he has no control of himself and he was not planned to commit the
crime. They also argued that because the murder was only a few months
older than 18 years, he had not yet mentally become mature as an
adult. He should therefore not be treated as a fully mature adult.
Tyson Brooks mother and a psychologist consultant have been interrogated
to indicate why Tyson Brooks become a violence people not being
able to control himself. This is a brief summary of the court procedure
today.
Since today's sentence is the final, there is nothing one can do
to either express satisfaction or dissatisfaction. However, based
on the "Notice to Victims or Their Family", an information sheet
from the prosecutors, those of you, either individuals or communities,
who feel that Tyson Brooks has not been sentenced heavy enough to
punish his cruel crime, can write letters to the "Ohio Parole Board"
to express your opinions and to request no parole for Tyson Brooks.
By so doing, your letter will be saved in the Album & Archive and
will be seriously considered when the parole board meet in the future
to decide whether or not to grant him the parole. You letter can
be sent to: Adult Parole Board, 1050 Freeway
Drive North, Columbus, Ohio 43229 (phone: 614-752-1198),
with case number: 99 CR 6380 Tyson Brooks,
33-life.
Finally, many
of you attend today's verdict or previous court procedures, and
the Chinese students and scholars at OSU and many Chinese at great
Columbus have shown your great support and concern to the victim's
family. Your great kindness and support is greatly appreciated.
We wish all the Chinese at Columbus continue to show your care to
our community and also learn to better protect ourselves from any
tragedy.
Take care and
good luck!
Back to Top
Jun Li
Department of Chemistry
The Ohio State University
100 West 18th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1173
Tel: (614)292-5227 (Office)
(614)529-7104 (Home)
Fax: (614)292-1685
E-Mail: li.208@osu.edu
Homepage: http://chemistry.ohio-state.edu/~junli
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