Queens woman sentenced for fatally stabbing immigration lawyer, DA says

Giulia Heyward

Published Oct 3, 2024

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José A. Alvarado Jr. / Gothamist

Giulia Heyward

Published Oct 3, 2024

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A Queens woman has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing an immigration lawyer who had dropped her as a client just days earlier, the Queens district attorney’s office said on Thursday.

Xiaoning Zhang, a 27-year-old Flushing resident, was found guilty last month of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment, in the death of Jim Li, a prominent civil rights activist known for his work during the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising in China, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

Li had taken Zhang on as a pro bono client and was representing her in an asylum case, officials said. He then dropped her after she admitted to lying on her application, according to prosecutors.

"A jury convicted Zhang and today a judge sentenced her to the maximum penalty under law," said Katz. "It is our hope that with this sentencing, the family, loved ones and legal community can find some solace in knowing the defendant has been held accountable for her crimes."

The case stems from an earlier incident on March 11, 2022, when Zhang visited Li's Flushing law office and demanded he remove from the internet a photograph of her at a protest in front of the United Nations, the DA's office said. When Li refused, Zhang became enraged, revealing she had lied on her asylum application, according to trial testimony.

Li told Zhang to leave the law office, at which point she began choking him, prosecutors said. Police were called and Zhang was escorted from the building and told not to return.

Three days later, on March 14, 2022, Zhang returned to Li's office armed with two knives — a paring knife and larger kitchen knife, officials said. She stabbed Li in the chest and neck.

An office worker restrained Zhang until police arrived, Katz said. Li was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Giulia Heyward

Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.

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