CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - A suspect in the 2017 kidnapping and slaying of a University of Illinois scholar from China wants to know if President Donald Trump spoke to Chinese officials about the case when he visited China in November.
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The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that prosecutors revealed in a federal-court filing Friday that Brendt Christensen's lawyers have made that request.
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Prosecutors say the defense contends such discussions between Trump and Chinese officials could have influenced the Justice Department's January decision to seek the death penalty for Christensen.
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Prosecutors call that contention a "far-flung theory" and add the defense isn't entitled to government communications.
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Yingying Zhang's disappearance drew heavy coverage by China's media. Prosecutors said the death penalty is justified because Christensen allegedly tortured the 26-year-old before killing her.
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His trial is set for April.
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