US: MIT researcher sentenced to 35 years for murdering student
A 33-year-old former researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was on Tuesday sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of Kevin Jiang, a Yale University graduate student. Earlier in February, Qinxuan Pan had admitted to the charges and expressed remorse during the hearing. "I feel sorry for what my actions caused and for everyone affected," he had said. The reason behind the murder hasn't been determined as yet.
Victim was a US Army veteran, a student at Yale
Jiang, the victim, was a 26-year-old United States (US) Army veteran and a student at Yale's School of the Environment. He was fatally shot by Pan on February 6, 2021, shortly after leaving his fiancée's residence in Connecticut. During the court hearing, Jiang's father Mingchen Jiang paid tribute to his son saying, "My son was a remarkable young man who cherished life and held deep belief in God."
Pan evaded law enforcement for three months after the murder
The motive behind Jiang's murder remains unclear. However, investigations revealed that Pan and Jiang's fiance knew each other through social media and had met at MIT. During the trial, Jiang's fiance told authorities she considered Pan a friend, but suspected he might have harbored feelings for her. After the incident, Pan evaded law enforcement for three months before being apprehended in Alabama, where he was caught living with a fake name, $19,000 in cash, a passport and several cellphones.
Jiang's relatives testify at the court
Several of Jiang's relatives and friends spoke in court before the judge handed down the sentence, which Pan agreed to as part of his plea bargain. "My son was a remarkable young man who cherished life and held deep (belief) in God. He had a bright future ahead — one that promised to spread God's love far and wide," Jiang's father, Mingchen Jiang told the court. Meanwhile, Pan also expressed remorse on his action, stating "I fully accept my penalties."
