Two sisters in University City will face a murder trial following the death of their 81-year-old mother, Kun Ying Yang. The case centers on a fatal incident at a Genesee Avenue apartment where Yang became trapped in a sleeper sofa frame.
The fatal mechanics of a Genesee Avenue sleeper sofa
The medical examiner determined that Kun Ying Yang died from prolonged positional asphyxia, a condition where the body's position prevents adequate breathing. As the report details, the victim was found by first responders hanging upside down in the gap between a mattress and a couch's backrest. A significant injury was also discovered across her abdomen, which investigators noted was consistent with the shape and size of the metal bar of the bed frame.
This tragic mechanical entrapment led to the manner of death being ruled a homicide.. The physical evidence suggests that the pressure from the metal frame played a direct role in the suffocation that claimed Yang's life .
An 18-hour window of alleged neglect
Prosecutors allege that a significant delay in seeking medical assistance contributed to the fatality. Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello argued that the sisters, Ingrid Wu and Rebecca Wu, left Yang in that dangerous position for approximately 18 hours before finally summoning help. According to testimony from the preliminary hearing, the timeline of events suggests the sisters were aware of the situation long before the 911 call was placed.
The prosecution's timeline stands in stark contrast to the immediate emergency response. While the sisters were the primary caretakers for both Yang and their 89-year-old father, the state argues that their failure to act promptly constitutes criminal neglect.
Defense claims of resistance and unintentional harm
Defense attorneys Abram Genser and Ally Gibney contend that the deaths were not the result of a conscious disregard for life. They argue that the sisters made multiple, earnest attempts to move their mother , but that Yang frequently resisted such efforts during daily care tasks like bathing or feeding. The defense maintains that the sisters believed their attempts to extricate her were actually causing her unnecessary pain and discomfort.
The defense's strategy focuses on the lack of intent required for a second-degree murder conviction. They point to statements made by the sisters immediately following the death, in which both women expressed profound shock that the situation had become fatal.
Judge Alana Robinson's ruling on the duty to act
Judge Alana Robinson ruled that the sisters had a clear legal duty to care for Yang and failed to fulfill that obligation by not seeking help sooner.. In her decision to move the case to trial, the judge noted that the sisters' own attempts to move their mother demonstrated they were aware that her position on the sofa was dangerous. The judge specifically cited testimony from a Mandarin-speaking SDPD officer who reviewed body-worn camera footage.
That footage reportedly captured a conversation between the sisters where Ingrid Wu admitted they should have called 911 immediately. This admission was a pivotal factor in the judge's determination that the sisters' actions met the threshold for a murder charge.
What remains unknown about the 89-year-old father?
While the murder trial proceeds, several details regarding the rest of the household remain unverified. Although prosecutors have dismissed the initial elder abuse charges against the sisters regarding their 89-year-old father, the specific circumstances of his care leading up to this event have not been fully detailed. Furthermore, while the father has been moved to a long-term care facility, his current medical status and the exact naure of the restraining orders preventing contact with the sisters remain private. The defense has also disputed the exact duration of the 18-hour window, leaving the precise timeline of the neglect a central point of contention for the upcoming trial.
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