Bloody body camera footage shown at trial in murder of Queens lawyer
/
Bloody body camera footage of the day Queens lawyer Jim Li was murdered was shown at the trial of his alleged killer this week. Eagle file photo by Walter Karling
By Noah Powelson
Prosecution called in their first witnesses in the trial of 27-year-old Xiaoning Zhang, who stands accused of murdering Queens immigration lawyer Jim Li in his law office in Flushing in 2022.
Bringing in a series of police officers, detectives, eye witnesses, fingerprint experts and body camera footage, the Queens District Attorney’s office began laying the foundation of their narrative arguing Zhang knowingly and willingly committed premeditated murder.
The body cam footage in particular will likely come under heavy scrutiny in the weeks ahead as both sides make their arguments for Zhang’s mental state.
NYPD Officer Sezgin Cagirici who responded to a 911 call on March 11, 2022, when Zhang allegedly first attacked the late lawyer, was the first witness called forward to testify.
Cagirici’s bodycam footage of the incident was also made available.
Body camera footage showed Zhang was present at Li’s office that day, and shows Li and other office workers telling her to leave.
Witnesses testified that Li told the officers on scene that he used to represent Zhang. They also told officers Zhang came to Li’s office that day attempting to get photos of herself removed from the internet.
Li can also be heard telling Zhang “I cannot help you because you repeatedly harassed me.”
Other claims made by the prosecution could not be verified by the officer’s testimony or footage.
Neither Cagirici’s testimony nor body cam footage showed Zhang physically putting her hands on Li. Additionally, the officer testified that nobody claimed Zhang physically assaulted Li.
However, Officer Cagirici did testify he heard Li telling Zhang to “Never touch me again.”
Footage showed officers telling Zhang she was not allowed to return to the office again, which she replied with a quick affirmative nod.
Zhang was escorted out of the office, where an EMS unit was waiting to question her on her mental health and medication history.
Other people who worked in Li’s office told officers that Zhang has depression.
The prosecution also called officers who responded to the 911 call on March 14, 2022, when Zhang allegedly stabbed Li several times in his neck and chest.
Footage from that day shows the moments after Zhang was arrested by the NYPD, and Li can be seen lying on the floor covered in blood.
Zhang is visible multiple times in the footage, wearing a white shirt, blue mask, black pants and white shoes. All of which were covered in blood.
All officers who witnessed the March 14 attack who testified agreed that Zhang appeared calm during her arrest, remained quiet unless addressed, and was completely compliant with officers’ instructions.
Zhang’s defense council made a series of objections to officers’ body camera footage being admitted as evidence. They argued that some testifying officers could not account for the footage on certain days after they had reviewed it, and could not confirm if the footage had been manipulated since then.
Judge Kenneth Holder overruled these objections, saying that all video evidence had been reviewed by both attorneys and the testifying officers several days before trial, if not the day before.
Zhang’s attorneys are expected to bring in their own witnesses next week.
