Alhambra, California – A man from the San Gabriel Valley was convicted of murder for brutally killing his two nephews while also injuring his wife during a violent outburst in 2016. Deyun Shi, 52, was found guilty of two counts of murder with a special circumstance for using a deadly weapon in the deaths of 15-year-old Anthony Lin and 16-year-old William Lin. He was also convicted of injuring his then-spouse, Yujin “Amy” Lin.
Relatives of the accused have alleged that Shi’s wife may have played a role in instigating his violent actions for financial gain. In response, Shi and his legal team have been seeking to establish an insanity defense in court.
The tragic events unfolded on January 21, 2016, when Shi learned that Lin was filing for divorce that same afternoon. Following a visit to a Pasadena courthouse, where a restraining order against him was being discussed, Shi made wire transfers totaling nearly $450,000 to individuals in his hometown in China. Later that night, he violently attacked his wife at their family home, injuring her and their 8-year-old son.
After assaulting his wife, Shi proceeded to the home of his brother- and sister-in-law in Arcadia, where he viciously murdered his nephews. Anthony Lin was beaten to death with bolt cutters, while William Lin tried to fend off Shi before also meeting a tragic end. Prosecutors found DNA from both victims on the murder weapon, further solidifying the case against Shi.
Throughout the trial, Shi’s defense has argued that he was suffering from mental health issues brought on by the stress of the divorce proceedings. They maintain that his actions were not driven by malice but rather by his deteriorating mental state. Despite these claims, prosecutors have highlighted a history of violent behavior by Shi towards his wife, including previous attempts to harm her.
Following the murders, Shi fled to Hong Kong, carrying multiple currencies and identifications from different countries. He was eventually arrested and extradited back to California, with assurances that the death penalty would not be sought in his case.
The trial has brought to light a complex web of allegations and accusations, with Shi’s relatives filing a wrongful death lawsuit against both him and his wife. The lawsuit claims that Yujin Lin orchestrated a plan to provoke her husband into violence to gain control of their marital properties in the United States and China.
As the trial unfolds, the true motives behind the tragic events of that fateful night continue to be scrutinized, shedding light on the complexities of intimate partner violence and mental health in the criminal justice system. The proceedings are set to resume on April 22, with both prosecution and defense presenting their cases for justice and closure for the victims’ families.