In June, Assamad Nash, 27, pleaded guilty to murder and burglary charges in the fatal stabbing of Christina Yuna Lee back in 2022.
Nash admitted to stalking 35-year-old Lee and following her into her Chinatown apartment where police say he stabbed her more than 40 times.
The judge noted the "tremendous turnout" in court as she delivered the sentence and noted the defendant has serious mental issues and is a danger to society.
On Feb. 13, 2022 just before 4:30 a.m., Nash followed Lee as she entered her apartment building near Grand and Chrystie streets and climbed six flights of stairs. When she walked into her apartment, Nash ran up behind her, pushed his way inside and tried to sexually assault her.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing Lee screaming for help but police couldn't get inside. When officers eventually broke down the door, they found Nash hiding under a mattress and Lee with at least 40 stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The ADA noted that the heinous murder happened at a time when attacks against Asians were on the rise coming out the pandemic, striking fear into the community. This crime was not prosecuted as a hate crime.
Lee's father, Sungkon Lee, sobbed as he delivered his impact statement and said their family will continue to live in unbearable pain and asked for the maximum sentence.
"Why did God do such terrible things to our family?" he said.
Outside the courthouse he blamed bail reform laws for failing his daughter and the NYPD.
"The police did not gain entrance into the scene of the crime until 1 hour and 20 minutes had passed since arriving at the scene," he said.
Lee's aunt said the victim's mother could not attend the sentencing because even two and a half years after her murder, her mother is still struggling to eat and she is gaunt from the suffering. So her aunt came instead because she said she wanted to see the face of man who killed her niece.
"Christina Yuna Lee was killed in an unthinkably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash," said District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "Ms. Yuna Lee was a creative, kind and joyful person and her death not only devastated her family but left a lasting impact on an entire community. I hope the resolution of this case offers comfort and a sense of justice for everyone that has been touched by Ms. Yuna Lee's life and this tragedy. May her legacy be celebrated for years to come."
The Lee family has filed a lawsuit against the NYPD. The department declined to comment citing pending litigation.
The defendant chose not to address the court on Tuesday.
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