Killed husband’s mistress, baby
By Chelsea J. Carter/AP
A Taiwanese woman who was tried three times on charges of murdering her millionaire husband’s mistress and baby pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of voluntary manslaughter in a settlement that will see her deported.
Li-Yun “Lisa” Peng, 51, whose trials ended with two hung juries and a conviction that was tossed out on appeal, told a court she was guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the 1993 deaths of Ranbing “Jennifer” Ji, 25, and the mistress’ 5-month-old son, Kevin.
“Based on all of the evidence and all of the testimony in this case... the court is satisfied the factual basis of voluntary manslaughter has been proven,” Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg said.
The crime was covered extensively by media from China, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia. A movie about the case was filmed in Taiwan.
Until 1991, electronics tycoon Tseng “Jim” Peng and his wife were a successful couple, shuttling between Taiwan and a home in Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County, Calif. They were the parents of two sons. Peng’s worth was estimated at $200 million, most of it from his Ranger Communications which made CB radios in Asia.
Peng’s husband then met his mistress in China and provided her with a California apartment.
Peng’s husband reported finding his mistress and baby slain in their apartment on Aug. 18, 1993. He was initially a suspect, but investigators then turned to his wife, who was in Taiwan. It was her husband who persuaded her to return to California.
The judge sentenced Li-Yun Peng to concurrent terms of 11 years in prison for the child’s death and six years for the mistress’ death.
But she was given credit for time served in custody since the crime, and her release to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for deportation was to be immediate.
She also pleaded guilty to an enhancement, use of a weapon, which the judge stayed.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Molko told the judge the agreement was negotiated because of the history of the case.
“With two hung juries ... it seems to me there’s the unlikely possibility of a jury reaching a verdict in this case,” the prosecutor said.
Peng, who spoke to the judge through a translator, cried at one point and hugged her attorney. One member of her family, a brother, was present, but she did not look at him.
Peng’s first trial ended in gridlock. A jury found her guilty in a second trial and she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996.
The conviction was overturned on appeal due to allegations that authorities ignored Peng’s request for an attorney during questioning, had her husband question her in her native language, and subjected her to hours of “threats, intimidation and bullying.”
Her most recent trial ended last week with the jury split 8-to-4 in favor of convicting her of second-degree murder after six days of deliberations. The judge declared a mistrial.
Defense attorney John Barnett said outside court the deal was “not a perfect solution,” but he was satisfied because his client could go home rather than face another trail.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you have an option of going home... or waiting six more months in custody, you go home,” he said.
Peng will return to Taiwan within a week or two, the attorney said.
“Given the options, she chose the only viable option,” Barnett said.
Molko said he didn’t view the agreement as a loss for the prosecution.
“We have her admitting she killed two people,” he said. |
