By Connor Adams Sheets
The man accused of brutally murdering and eviscerating Qian Wu in the hallway of her Flushing apartment building in January has been declared unfit to stand trial by two psychiatrists, according to his attorney, Michael Schwed.
The Queens district attorney’s office said it has not accepted the psychiatrists’ findings that Huang Chen, 47, of Flushing, should not be tried because his mental state does not currently allow him to understand the proceedings.
If prosecutors secure a finding from another psychiatrist that Chen is fit to stand trial, a court hearing to determine his fitness will be held in order to reach a final ruling on his fitness. Otherwise, Chen will go to a mental correctional facility such as the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center until such time as he is found to be capable of standing trial, according to Schwed.
Huang Chen, 47, was arraigned April 7 before Queens County Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and three counts of tampering with physical evidence, according to the DA.
Chen faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of the crimes and was ordered held without bail until his next court appearance Friday, according to the DA.
“His alleged violent conduct demonstrates that he is a threat to society,” Brown said in a statement. “This case will be vigorously prosecuted to ensure that justice is served for the victim and her family.
Wu’s husband, Yongwei Guo, last month retained a lawyer, as did her father, since the two are fighting over custody of her son and her possessions, which include property in China, state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) said.
“Yesterday I actually ran into the husband [Guo] in the lobby of our building,” Meng spokeswoman Linda Sun said Friday. “He told me that his father-in-law and him have a case to split up the assets. They’re both making a claim for it.”
Wu’s murder was the culmination of an alleged four-year campaign of stalking and harassment by Chen, according to police.
Wu, 46, had already successfully filed an order of protection against him June 1, 2006, after he assaulted her a first time after her employment agency was unable to secure work for him, according to the DA. The order was automatically reordered several times but had lapsed by last month, according to police.
Chen allegedly followed Wu into the hallway of her apartment building Jan. 26 at 135-32 40th Road, bashed her head in with a hammer and cut her body open with a utility knife to mutilate her, police said. It was the first time Wu had left the apartment in days, Meng said.
He allegedly fled the scene and was later caught by police after checking in at New York Hospital Queens for wounds police believe occurred during the murder, according to the DA.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
