Zhang Yingying's kidnapping and death took place at 9: 00 a.m. local time on June 3, at the federal court in (Peoria), central Illinois.
Christensen (left), Zhang Yingying (right). Associated Press
The trial at this stage will elect 12 members of the jury and six preparatory jurors from over 400 jury candidates, which is expected to end in the period from 1 to 2 weeks and then into the conviction phase.
These 18 juries, on the other hand, play a key role in the conviction of criminals.
In front of the federal court in Piorya (photo by Xiao Yun / Niu Yiming)
At 8: 00 in the morning, journalist, a number of media outlets in China and the United States, began waiting in front of the courthouse.
Half an hour before the hearing, Zhang Yingying's parents and brothers, accompanied by volunteer lawer, arrived at court. The Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago later entered court.
The family of Zhang Yingying, the victim of the case, reached the gate of the court. Zhang Yingying's mothe
The first trial is under way and is expected to last until 5 p.m.
At the end of the morning trial, judge and lawer questioned 16 jury candidates, all assuming the suspect was innocent, but six of them made it clear that they could not serve as jurors because of time.
Zhang Yingying's parents and brother walked into court together in the morning, but only Zhang Yingying's father appeared at the court scene.
The trial was interrupted for a long time in the morning, and judge talked to both lawer and Zhang Yingying's father in another room for a long time, details of which were unknown. Sixteen more jury candidates will come in the afternoon.
Zhang Yingying's mother (first from left), father (first from right) and younger brother (middle) entered court
Huang Liming (former), Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of China in Chicago, arrived at court (photo taken by Xiao Yun / Niu Yiming)
The trial proceedings against Christensen's prosecute opened on June 3 at the federal court of (Peoria), Peoria, and the entire lawsuit is expected to last for two months.
For ease of understanding, we divided the trial into three stages.
Phase I: selection of jury (Jury Selection)
According to the federal criminal justice process in the United States, the first thing that needs to be determined after entering the trial phase of (Trial) is the jury candidate.
At present, the list of jury candidates has been reduced to more than 400. The candidates will be screened after the formal hearing on June 3, and the prosecution and defense lawer, under the supervision of judge, will ask the candidates questions aimed at selecting unbiased jurors.
Both sides can exclude candidates for reason and then eliminate them separately without reason.
In the end, the candidates will leave 12 jury members and 6 preparatory jurors. This phase is expected to last 1 to 2 weeks.
Phase II: conviction phase
After the opening speech, the trial entered the cross-examination link.
The prosecution has the burden of proof, with prosecutor providing evidence (such as recording, photo, etc.) and witness testimony in an attempt to prove the guilt of the accused.
After prosecutor directly questioned the witness, the defence lawer could cross-examine the same witness in order to destroy or reduce the credibility of the witness's testimony.
The prosecution and defense then conducted a second round of questions on the witness. After all prosecution witnesses testify, it is the defence's turn to provide witness testimony to present evidence in favour of the suspect.
After the cross-examination process, the two sides lawer summed up the statement (Closing Arguments), which is also the last opportunity for both lawer to communicate with the jury.
JUDGE will then inform the jury of the law applicable to the case, as well as the considerations for making the decision, which the jury determines if the defendant is guilty.
During discussions within the jury, jury members will block contact with any person involved in the trial.
If the jury has doubts about law, they must ask judge, judge to answer the jury's questions in the presence of the prosecution and defense lawer.
In a federal criminal trial, the jury must reach all consent before a judgment can be reached. The jury members hold any difference, namely the jury's deadlock, which leads to a trial. The conviction phase of the case is expected to last for about 2 weeks.
If the jury agrees that the defendant is guilty, then enter the sentencing stage, (Sentencing)
Since this case is the crime of kidnapping death, the penalty is only life imprisonment or death penalty. According to the federal law, it is up to the jury to decide whether or not to apply the death penalty.
At present, the prosecutor in this case is seeking the death penalty. Similar to the conviction stage, the prosecution and defense lawer will once again cross-examine the sentencing issue, and the jury will have to agree on the death penalty. This phase is expected to last about three weeks.
In the complex trial process in the United States, the prosecution and defense are like fierce adversaries in the battle, any accident can happen, so the change process and outcome.
At this stage, it is immature and irresponsible to make any judgment on the outcome of the trial.
Zhang Yingying's family has arrived in the United States and will participate in the trial process, hoping that the criminals will receive the harshest punishment they deserve.