Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

February 19, 2008

Man Sentenced to 90 Years to Life for 2001 Murder, Assault in Temple City

ALHAMBRA – A 49-year-old man convicted of murdering a Temple City woman and wounding her husband in 2001 was sentenced today to a 90-year-to-life prison term.

Deputy District Attorney Teresa Sullivan said Leon Ban-Jye Ko was sentenced by Alhambra Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench.

Ko was convicted in August of first-degree murder and attempted murder by a jury that also found that the defendant personally used a handgun to commit the crimes. Since Ko also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, the same jury heard a second phase of the trial. Jurors determined that he was sane at the time the crimes were committed on Oct. 16, 2001.

Ai-Chin Liu, also known as Sally Hong, 50, was shot to death at her Temple City home. Her then 60-year-old husband, John Hsin Hong, also known as Jackson Hong, was wounded, but survived.

Authorities said Ko, a boarder, drew a handgun during an argument with the victims and shot both in the face. He fled and was arrested in Boulder City, Nev., about two weeks after the shooting.

The defendant was extradited to stand trial in Alhambra, but the case was delayed for some time while the issue of his mental competency was studied and litigated.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.