DUBLIN, CA — An elderly couple pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering their son-in-law in a Dublin park on Sept. 26. An attorney for Shili Chen also alleged that Jonathan McKinsey threatened her life three times, including one alleged threat involving a hit man.
Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, are charged with murder, along with several enhancements and special circumstance allegations. Prosecutors allege that both Zhang and Chen intentionally killed McKinsey by lying in wait and personally firing guns during the attack. If convicted, they both face the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Curtis Briggs, Chen's court-appointed attorney, said that his client "trembles in fear" whenever McKinsey's name is mentioned, according to a report in The San Francisco Chronicle. Briggs also alleged that McKinsey, who was involved in a contentious custody dispute with their daughter at the time of the killing, and threatened Chen's life three times. Briggs did not provide further evidence or details surrounding the hit man allegation.
Briggs said that the couple began carrying firearms in March to defend themselves. Briggs told NBC Bay Area that the couple acted out of concern after allegedly witnessing something disturbing on the day of the shooting, which took place during one of McKinsey's supervised visits with his children. Briggs did not elaborate on what the couple allegedly witnessed.
"My client was absolutely concerned for her own life and also concerned for her grandchildren," he said.
McKinsey was embroiled in a contentious divorce and custody battle with the suspects' daughter, Candice Jang. Both Jang and McKinsey had filed petitions for restraining orders against one another, with each accusing the other of abuse involving themselves or their children. McKinsey was also facing misdemeanor child-abuse charges, which he had denied.
In a petition for a restraining order, McKinsey, a transgender man, also alleged that Chen had directed anti-LGBTQ slurs at him and his children, and that Zhang had punched him in the chest when he was recovering from a double mastectomy surgery.
Police say that Zhang admitted to shooting McKinsey in an interview. Police also say that recovered surveillance video showed Chen and Zhang shooting McKinsey "in concert."
Zhang's attorney, a public defender, told CBS News Bay Area that they plan to ask a judge for his release or to set bail, saying he is physically frail and showing signs of dementia.
The couple have been in custody at Santa Rita Jail with no bail since the shooting. A bail hearing is set for Nov. 4.
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