In-laws' attorney describes deceased NYT executive as violent amid murder trial

At a hearing in Alameda County, the attorney for the defendants—Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, the parents-in-law of the late Jonathan McKinsey—asserted that McKinsey had a history of severe anger and family abuse. He told reporters the former New York Times executive "rained hell on his family for years" and described incidents in which McKinsey allegedly fractured his wife's spine and was ordered to attend parenting classes after a child abuse charge.

McKinsey, a transgender executive, was shot dead in a Northern California parking lot on Sept. 26. Prosecutors have charged Chen and Zhang with murder, alleging they ambushed McKinsey and fired multiple shots. The defendants have not yet entered a plea but are expected to plead not guilty.

The lawyer highlighted a courtroom moment in which Zhang assisted Chen with a Mandarin interpreter's earpiece, suggesting the grandparents were caring. He also characterized Chen as a frail, devoted grandmother. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the grandparents planned and executed the killing.

A family source speculated that the in-laws might have acted to benefit McKinsey’s wife, Candice Jang, in a custody dispute, though the attorney declined to comment on that theory. He said an investigation might later address such speculation.