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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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Jason Chen cried as his mother testified at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday for the murder of his girlfriend Jasmine Pace.
The jury unanimously agreed to sentence Chen to life without the possibility of parole.
Why It Matters
Chen was accused of stabbing Jasmine 60 times and leaving her body in a suitcase along the banks of the Tennessee River in November 2022.
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When was Jason Chen convicted of murdering Jasmine Pace?
The sentencing hearing was held one day after a Tennessee jury found Chen guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. The jury deliberated for less than an hour.
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What To Know
The first person to testify at the hearing was Chen's mother, Shu Fang Chen. Shu Fang, who does not speak English, testified via an interpreter.
She said he "knows right from wrong" and was not violent as a child.
"We are a law-abiding family. We teach our children well to study hard, to work hard and to get a good job and have a good life," Shu Fang said.
She asked the judge and jury to be lenient in their sentencing.
"I pray to the judge and jury to give him a chance so that he could go home and restart his life," Shu Fang said.
Chen declined to testify at the sentencing hearing.
Jacqueline White, Jasmine's cousin, began her testimony by dropping 60 stones in a jar to represent the number of times Jasmine was stabbed. White called Chen a "subhuman villain"
"His mere presence defiles this very court, and I'm sorry for everyone here that has had the unfortunate fate of having to cross paths with him," White said.
Travis Pace, Jasmine's father, spoke about how she wanted to be a mother someday.
"Jasmine was not the only person we lost," Travis said. "We lost her children. We lost her grandchildren. The entire family tree has been cut down.
He added: "It will not just affect us for a few years. For the next thousands of generations, we will no longer have that piece of our family."
Gabrielle Pace, Jasmine's older sister, said she had "the most beautiful aura and soul."
"She never gave up on people, and she never gave up on herself," Gabrielle said. "No matter how hard or how busy, she always made time for family and friends, because it was the most important thing to her."
Who Is Jason Chen?
Chen was arrested on November 29, 2022, in connection with Jasmine's killing. He was a 22-year-old student at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga majoring in computer science at the time.
Defense attorney Josh Weiss said Chen is a first-generation Chinese American immigrant.
What happened to Jasmine Pace?
Weiss detailed the night of Jasmine's death in his opening statement. He said the couple were at Chen's house when she heard a Tinder notification on his phone. Weiss said the two began arguing when Jasmine saw Chen's messages to other women.
Weiss said that "Jasmine attacked Chen with an empty wine bottle." In reaction, Chen "kicked her and she fell backwards."
Jasmine then allegedly grabbed a wine glass and "chased after" Chen, according to Weiss. Chen saw a knife and allegedly "blacked out."
"He comes to laying over Jasmine's body," Weiss said.
Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp said Jasmine was intentionally killed and "premeditation was involved" in her opening statement.
What People Are Saying
Shu Fang Chen, Jason Chen's mother, said in her testimony: "He is a good person. He's not a bad person. [I] would wish that her family would allow him a chance to relive his life and improve his situation."
Gabrielle Pace, Jasmine Pace's older sister, said in her testimony: "I'll never forget the overbearing heartache I felt when I found out what he had done to my sister, that overwhelming anger and disgust."
What Happens Next
Catrina Pace, Jasmine's mother, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chen and his parents. The lawsuit asks for $12 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages.
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