Killer of USC Chinese student convicted in Los Angeles

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The Los Angeles Superior Court announced on Thursday that Andrew Garcia was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of a Chinese graduate student at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2014.

Ji Xinran, 24-years-old, was attacked during an attempted robbery on July 24, 2014 when he was walking to his apartment from a study session. He was found dead the next morning.

Yannis Yortsos, Dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, bows toward the famliy of slain graduate student Ji Xinran during a memorial ceremony at the Newman Recital Hall on campus in Los Angeles, California, August 1, 2014. /VCG Photo

Medical reports indicate that Ji suffered skull fractures, facial lacerations, and a broken nose. Garcia and three co-defendants were charged with first-degree murder, second-degree robbery, second-degree attempted robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon.

After a five day jury trial, the Court had a closing statement on Wednesday, where prosecutor John McKinney presented evidence including footage from surveillance cameras, autopsy report, DNA report and interrogation recordings.

Du Jinhui (4th L), and Ji Songbo (C), attend a memorial service for their son Ji Xinran, a 24-year-old engineering graduate student from China attending the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California in this August 1, 2014 handout photo. /VCG Photo

"All the evidence has proven that Garcia was not only an accomplice, he was the perpetrator," Cai Wenhui, Ji's family attorney told Xinhua on Wednesday.

After about two hours of discussion on Thursday, the jury made a decision that 21-year-old Garcia was guilty. He will face up to life in prison without parole. Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.

The other two defendants will also face jury trials in the near future.

(Source: Xinhua)

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