A Chinese-American woman, Deng Haiyan, who shot her lover, Justin Jiaxin Li, in a Flushing apartment three years ago, has recently pleaded guilty to several criminal charges, including first-degree manslaughter and second-degree burglary. The judge has sentenced her to 27 years in prison, prompting family members of the deceased to voice their anguish over her actions.
Before the sentencing, Li’s two sons addressed the court. The elder son, just 11 years old, expressed the profound loss he feels, stating, “I will never be able to talk to my dad again. Every time I see other children laughing and talking with their dads, I realize I have lost that chance forever. No one taught me how to become a better person, and what hurts even more is that my dad will never see me graduate from high school or college.”
The young boy shared that many say he resembles his father, especially in his eyes. “I hope that’s true, so my brother won’t forget our dad and won’t have to imagine what he looked like,” he lamented, calling out Deng Haiyan’s selfish actions. “If there’s one thing I want you to remember, it’s my face, because this is the last time you see my father’s eyes.”
His younger brother, still innocent and unaware of the deeper implications, simply stated, “I love my dad. I will always love him.”
Li’s father confronted Deng in court, asking, “Why did you kill my son? What was your intention? Are you happy now that my son is gone? You’ll spend how long in prison? No amount of punishment will take away my hatred for what you’ve done.”
Li’s aunt, tearfully questioning Deng’s heartlessness, remarked, “You are also a mother; didn’t you think about what would happen to these two children? Our family is in tears. In my heart, you deserve the death penalty.”
Justin’s wife initially felt there was nothing left to say to Deng but eventually spoke up. “I feel you can understand my pain because you are a mother too. As a woman, I need to tell you that you are wrong, and I am right.” She raised her hand, showing her wedding ring, “Even though he is gone, this ring is still here.”
Throughout the emotional proceedings, Deng remained silent and did not take the opportunity to speak. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant noted that the case has been discussed multiple times since its presentation in January 2022. Deng chose to plead guilty, sparing the victim’s family from the potential pain of a trial and the graphic details of the crime. “Regardless, Deng Haiyan’s actions are exceedingly heinous. She took a life,” the judge emphasized.
The judge sentenced Deng to 22 years for first-degree manslaughter with an additional five years of supervised release. For the second-degree burglary charge, she received another five years, also subject to five years of supervised release, with both sentences running consecutively, totaling 27 years in prison.
According to police reports, Deng, born in 1990, had worked at a karaoke bar and was involved in a year-long affair with Li. During their relationship, she repeatedly urged him to divorce his wife, even clashing with her. On September 18, 2021, she shot the 26-year-old Li in her Flushing apartment. After the incident, Li’s wife called the police, who later found him dead from a gunshot wound to the head in Deng’s apartment.
