A federal grand jury on Tuesday charged Brendt A. Christensen, the suspect in the kidnapping of visiting Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, with kidnapping resulting in death.
If convicted, Christensen could face mandatory life in prison or even the death penalty, said a news release by the U.S. Justice Department.
美国检方３日对涉嫌绑架中国访问学者章莹颖的被告人布伦特·克里斯滕森提出绑架并导致章莹颖死亡的新指控。如果被定罪，被告将面临死刑或者终身监禁
In the four-page indictment obtained by a Xinhua reporter, the grand jury said Christensen committed the offense "in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner after substantial planning and premeditation to cause the death of a person."
Christensen was previously charged with kidnapping Zhang on June 9. Tuesday's superseding indictment by a federal grand jury added the charge that Christensen's kidnapping resulted in Zhang's death.
Though Christensen could face the death penalty on the new charge, whether prosecutors will seek the ultimate penalty against the suspect will be decided by Attorney General Jeff Sessions at a later date.
If prosecutors decide not to seek the death penalty, a conviction would result in mandatory life in prison without parole.
美国司法部在其网站上发布的一份新闻稿中说，联邦检察官帕特里克·汉森和联邦调查局探员肖恩·考克斯３日共同宣布了新起诉书。联邦大陪审团提出的新起诉书针对嫌疑人追加了三项新罪名：一项为绑架致死，两项为虚假陈述。
针对绑架致死指控，新起诉书提供证据说章莹颖是在绑架过程中死亡的；克里斯滕森实施犯罪的方式令人发指，特别残忍恶劣，包括酷刑或严重的肉体虐待；克里斯滕森犯罪有计划、有预谋，并导致受害人死亡。
Christensen was also charged with two counts of making false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, which could result in five years in prison on each charge if convicted.
除了绑架致死，新起诉书指控克里斯滕森两次向联邦调查局作伪证。第一次在６月１２日，在明知自己６月９日下午开车在校园兜圈子并让等待公交车的章莹颖上车的情况下，克里斯滕森告诉联邦调查局探员自己当日整天在公寓睡觉，玩电子游戏。第二次在６月１５日，在明知自己没有让章莹颖下车，而是将她带回自己公寓的情况下，告诉联邦调查局探员受害人上车后不久在一个居民区下了车。
如果作伪证罪名被定罪，每项伪证罪名可判５年监禁。
The date for Christensen to appear in federal court for arraignment on the superseding indictment is yet to be decided by the U.S. Clerk of the Court in Urbana, Illinois.
Christensen is currently being held without bond with the tentative schedule to go on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce on Feb. 27, 2018.
Zhang went missing on her way to sign a lease on June 9. Investigators later announced that Zhang was kidnapped. Prosecutors allege that Christensen approached Zhang and lured her into his car.
Law enforcement agents first turned their attention to Christensen after they found his Saturn Astra was the same one Zhang disappeared in, according to surveillance footage.
But Christensen told the FBI that he was at home all day on the day Zhang went missing. He then changed his story, saying that he came across an Asian woman and offered her a ride; however, he let her out of his car after she panicked.
The FBI conducted audio surveillance on Christensen which produced enough evidence to lead to Christensen's arrest on June 30. Christensen was caught on tape pointing out people he described as "ideal victims" during a vigil in Zhang's honor.
现年２６岁的章莹颖今年４月前往伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳－尚佩恩分校学习，６月９日在坐上一辆黑色轿车后失踪。美国联邦调查局６月３０日逮捕克里斯滕森，指控他涉嫌绑架章莹颖。７月５日，美国伊利诺伊州中部地区联邦法院法官埃里克·朗拒绝克里斯滕森的保释申请。７月１２日，伊利诺伊州一个联邦大陪审团决定起诉克里斯滕森。７月２０日，克里斯滕森在法庭上首次开口，但拒绝认罪。
(Source: Xinhua)
