A 34-year-old Chinese-American woman, Deng Haiyan, who shot her lover in a Flushing apartment three years ago, has recently pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including first-degree manslaughter and second-degree burglary. A judge has sentenced her to 27 years in prison, while several family members of the victim, Justin Jiaxin Li, were present in court to express their anguish over her actions.
Before sentencing, two of Justin’s sons spoke in court. His 11-year-old son conveyed the irreversible loss he feels, stating, “I’ll never be able to talk to my dad again. Whenever I see other kids laughing and talking with their fathers, it hits me that I’ve lost that chance forever. No one is here to teach me how to be a better person. What makes it worse is that my dad will never see me graduate from high school or college.”
The elder son continued, noting the resemblance he shares with his father, particularly in his eyes. “I hope that’s true, so my little brother won’t forget what our dad looks like and won’t have to imagine him. I want you to remember my face because this is the last time you’ll see my father’s eyes.”
The younger son, still innocent and young, simply stated, “I love my dad. I will always love him.”
Justin’s father confronted Deng in court, asking, “Why did you kill my son? What were your intentions? Are you happy that you took my son’s life? Now, you will sit in prison for an unknown time, but know this: your punishment will never ease my hatred.”
Justin’s aunt, moved to tears, questioned Deng’s callousness, highlighting the impact of her actions on two young boys. “You’re a mother too; how could you not think about what will happen to those children? Our family is grieving endlessly. I believe you deserve the death penalty for what you’ve done.”
Justin’s wife expressed initially not wanting to speak, indicating she had no words for Deng. “Yet, I feel you should understand my pain, being a mother yourself. As a woman, I want to tell you that your actions were wrong, and mine are right.” She raised her hand, showing her wedding ring, “Even though he’s gone, this ring is still here.”
Deng remained silent throughout, choosing not to speak in her defense. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant noted that the case, which has been under consideration since January 2022, involved numerous discussions, and Deng’s decision to plead guilty spared the family from experiencing the trauma of a trial, including the graphic details of Justin’s murder. “Nonetheless, Deng’s actions were heinous, and she took a life.”
The judge imposed a 22-year sentence for the first-degree manslaughter and 5 years for the second-degree burglary, both to run consecutively, totaling 27 years.
According to police reports, Deng, born in 1990 and formerly employed at a KTV, was engaged in a year-long affair with Justin. During this time, she repeatedly urged him to divorce his wife, even confronting her on multiple occasions. On September 18, 2021, she shot the 26-year-old Justin in her Flushing apartment. Following the incident, Justin’s wife called the police, who later found Justin deceased from a gunshot wound to the head.
