In New York City, a homeless career criminal was charged with the brutal murder of 35-year-old executive Christine Yuan Li, whom the suspect falsely claimed the woman was his “friend” and that he was trying to “help” when he tried to accuse someone of stabbing someone then another.
Assamad Nash, 25, appeared in Manhattan Superior Court on Wednesday and stood trial on charges of first-degree murder, burglary and burglary as a sexual felony. He pleaded not guilty to these counts through his attorney.
Lee’s murder last month, which came amid a surge in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans, rocked the city and reignited questions about New York State’s controversial bail reform after it was revealed Nash was a serial a criminal released under supervision as a result of a robbery. .
“Today’s indictment marks the beginning of our quest for justice in the name of Christina Yuna Lee, a smart and beloved New Yorker whose life should not have ended in such a violent and shocking way in her own home,” Manhattan County said. Lawyer Alvin Bragg.
‘RS. Yuna Lee’s death not only devastated her loved ones, but also struck fear into the hearts of our AAPI neighbors, who have already endured too much pain in recent years. All New Yorkers deserve to be safe, and we will ensure accountability for this senseless murder.”
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Assamad Nash, 25, appeared in Manhattan Superior Court on Wednesday and stood trial on charges of first-degree murder, burglary and burglary as a sexual felony.
Nash, a homeless career criminal, is accused of stalking Christina Yuan Li home and stabbing her 40 times in the bath with a kitchen knife in February.
Nash pleaded not guilty to charges that could land him in jail for the rest of his life if convicted.
Lee, 35, a senior creative producer, was stabbed 40 times in her apartment after being followed by a suspect.
According to the indictment, during his arrest, Nash made a number of false statements in an attempt to convince police that another assailant was responsible for Lee’s murder and that he was injured while trying to protect the woman.
The Long Crime Story of Assamad Nash
Transport fraud and drug charges
Nash was arrested last September 23 for using an unlimited subway pass card to let other passengers through the turnstile for a fee. The arresting officer allegedly found a synthetic cannabinoid in his pocket.
He was charged with the unauthorized sale of certain transportation services and possession of synthetic phenethylamines and synthetic cannabinoids.
He was released on bail.
to attack
Nash was arrested on September 28 last year for hitting a man with a clenched fist, “causing redness and swelling” of the victim’s right eye and “great pain.”
He was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, one count of aggravated stalking, attempted assault and stalking.
He was released on bail.
criminal evil
Nash was arrested on January 6 after vandalizing 27 MetroCard vending machines between December 9 and 31.
At the time of his arrest, he attempted to escape and was charged with 27 counts of mischief, one count of attempted escape, third-degree escape, and resisting arrest.
He was given supervised release.
“I was trying to help my friend,” Nash allegedly said. “I tried to help this woman who was hurt by other people. I tried to help the lady.
On the morning of Feb. 13, Lee, senior creative producer at music streaming platform Splice, was walking back from a club to her Chinatown apartment when prosecutors said Nash was stalking her.
Security video captured Nash sneaking into the building on Christy Street behind Lee, who didn’t notice her stalker slip inside before the front door closed behind her.
Nash kept his distance as the digital producer climbed the six flights to her apartment, moving up one floor as she progressed.
According to police, he lunged at her when Li opened the front door and entered her apartment.
Neighbors woke up at 4:20 am to Lee’s bloodcurdling cries, “Please help me.” Call 911,” and one of them immediately called the police.
Officers responded to the scene within minutes, but Nash barricaded himself in the apartment and tried to force them to leave by making several conflicting statements.
“I am alone in the apartment. We are well. Nobody bleeds. We don’t need help. You broke my door. Go away. We don’t need the police, I’m fine,” Nash said in a statement on body camera footage, according to the indictment.
Nash then tried to escape the apartment through the fire escape with the yellow object in his hand, but went back inside after seeing a police officer on the roof above him, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
When officers finally broke down the door to Li’s apartment 90 minutes later, they found a half-naked woman bleeding from 40 wounds to her torso, head and neck in the bath.
Nash was discovered hiding under a mattress in Lee’s apartment. A bloody, yellow-handled knife from Lee’s kitchen cabinet was found hidden behind a chest of drawers.
As Nash was being taken to the hospital to be treated for cuts he claimed were inflicted by a fictitious assailant who “stabbed us to death”, he feigned concern for his victim, according to the New York Post.
Lee was returning home from a club in the early hours of February 13 when Nash, a homeless criminal, followed her, as seen on surveillance video.
According to the indictment, Nash lied that Lee (pictured) was his friend and that he was trying to protect her from a mysterious intruder.
— How is the girl in the apartment? She is alright? According to ABC News, he is quoted as asking in the indictment. “We were at a party and the dude ran away.”
Upon arrival at Bellevue Hospital, Nash reiterated that he had not stabbed Lee and that he was “trying to protect the woman,” the lawsuit says.
During an interview with the detective, Nash claimed that if Lee’s murder was not caught on video, “how can they say it’s me?”
At the time of his arrest, Nash was under supervision in four open cases, including the beating of 63-year-old David Elliot in a subway station.
Elliot, who works at Rutgers University, told The New York Post that he was shocked that the “apparently” mentally ill Nash was free to roam the streets after he was attacked at Grand Central Station.
Nash is pictured in court during his initial indictment a day after his arrest.
“I was watching the news at 5 o’clock and I saw him being taken out of the apartment and I was like, ‘That’s the guy who the hell hit me!’ Elliot said.
“He shouldn’t have gone outside—hell no.”
Nash, who lived in a homeless shelter, has an extensive criminal record that includes multiple arrests resulting in charges of assault, vandalism, stalking, resisting arrest, attempting and successfully escaping cops, and selling fare. map.
If found guilty of Li’s murder, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Nash is due back in court on July 18.