Chinese Scholar Murder Trial: Brendt Christensen faces possible death penalty

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Now to an emotional day in the Brendt Christensen trial, in the U.S. state of Illinois as the jury is set to decide if the convicted killer will live or die. The family of Zhang Yingying testified during the death penalty phase of the hearing. At one point, Zhang's father broke down in tears. CGTN's Dan Williams has the latest from the court.

Day two of sentencing in the Brendt Christensen trial and an emotional day for Zhang Yingying's family. This was the family's chance to tell the court how Zhang's death had affected them.

Zhang's father Zhang Ronggao told the court that his life will never be complete without his daughter.

DAN WILLIAMS PEORIA, ILLINOIS "Zhang Ronggao was shown a picture of the last time the family had been together. It was at a train station as Zhang Yingying departed for the United States. After a long pause, he broke down in tears. Members of the jury also cried as did Christensen."

With emotions running high, a video was then shown of Zhang Yingying's mother giving her testimony. She said Zhang was 'her everything' and that 'she doesn't know how to carry on without her.' During the video, a jury member left the court, in tears, prompting the judge to call a recess.

Earlier, Zhang's boyfriend and fiancée told the jury that knowing the facts of what Christensen did to Zhang was too cruel and painful.

At that point, the defense objected on grounds of improper victim impact evidence. They called for a mistrial which the judge denied. But he agreed to strike the statement from the record.

Zhang was last seen alive on June ninth, 2017, getting into Christensen's black Saturn Astra. Her body has never been found.

ZHIDONG WANG ZHANG FAMILY ATTORNEY "Every word was from the bottom of their hearts. And it is so real the pain you sit there and listen, you feel the same pain the family has suffered for the past two years."

The defense says life in prison, without parole, is punishment enough for Christensen. The jury will soon decide his fate. Dan Williams, CGTN, Peoria, Illinois.