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1 month ago
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A man who stalked a woman back to her New York City apartment before brutally murdering her has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Assamad Nash, 27, followed Christina Yuna Lee back to her Chinatown apartment in February 2022 where he 'butchered' her by stabbing her over forty times.
Nash had earlier pleaded guilty on June 18 to one count each of murder and burglary as a sexually motivated felony in the murder of the 35-year-old.
He appeared in court on Tuesday in an orange prison jumpsuit and wore a surgical mask while his hands were restrained.
The judge acknowledged that Nash was mentally ill and imposed the maximum sentence saying 'there are no medications available that can protect society'.
Assamad Nash, seen here in court on Tuesday, followed Christina Yuna Lee back to her apartment in February 2022 where he 'butchered' her by stabbing her over forty times
Lee had been returning from a club when Nash followed her inside her Chinatown home and murdered her
Lee, who worked at the music streaming platform Splice, had been returning from a club when Nash followed her.
Security tapes show Nash creeping into her building behind Lee, who didn't notice her stalker had slipped in before the front door had closed behind her.
Nash kept his distance as the digital producer climbed the six flights to her apartment, climbing up one floor below as she went.
He rushed her as Lee unlocked her front door and entered her apartment, police at the time said.
Neighbors were awakened at 4:20 a.m. to Lee's blood-curdling screams of 'Please, help me. Call 911,' and one of them immediately summoned police.
Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yorna said: 'As the defendant tried to rip off Ms. Lee’s clothes, Ms. Lee managed to grab a knife from her kitchen block and slash the defendant in the shoulder and torso.
'She ran into her bathroom to get away from him. He followed her and butchered her, stabbing and cutting her over 40 times.'
Officers responded within minutes, but Nash had barricaded himself inside the apartment and tried to get them to leave.
Nash was heard telling officers: 'I am alone in the apartment. We are ok. No one is bleeding. We don't need help. Go away. We don't need the police, I am fine.'
Security tapes show Nash creeping into her building behind Lee, who didn't notice her stalker had slipped in before the front door had closed behind her
Nash, seen here in 2022, rushed her as Lee unlocked her front door and entered her apartment, police at the time said
He then attempted to flee through a fire escape but went back inside after seeing a police officer on the roof above him.
When officers broke down the door to Lee's apartment, they found her partially naked body with 40 wounds to her torso, head and neck inside the bathtub.
Nash was discovered hiding under a mattress inside Lee's apartment. A bloodstained yellow-handed knife from Lee's kitchen set was found stashed behind a dresser.
According to the New York Daily News, Lee's father Sungkon Lee told the court: 'Christina had a good nature and was considerate.
'She was a truly good daughter who always treated her family, friends, and people around her with a smile and kindness.
'She worked hard at her company with a sincere attitude. After Christina died, the remaining family members have been having a hard time living each day, feeling overwhelmed with longing and regret.
Outside of court on Tuesday, Lee's father said he would be suing the city for negligence, believing the police response was inadequate
'Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen to our family? I just feel resentful that God is giving my family this ordeal.'
While District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement: 'Christina Yuna Lee was killed in an unthinkably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash.
Bragg said Lee's death 'not only devastated her family but left a lasting impact on an entire community.'
Outside of court on Tuesday, Lee's father said he would be suing the city for negligence, believing the police response was inadequate.
He told reporters: 'While the police first arrived in front of the building in two to three minutes after the call, the police did not gain entrance to the scene of the crime until about an hour and twenty minutes had passed since arriving at the scene. In the meantime, Christina suffered a cruel death.
'Now that the criminal case against Nash has been concluded, the police must disclose all information regarding the incident, and if there was an incorrect or inadequate response, the relevant person must take appropriate responsibility.'
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