A Monroe woman’s 2013 murder conviction was affirmed on April 24 by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.
Tianle Li, 48, was convicted on July 9, 2013, by a jury sitting in New Brunswick of the murder of her husband, Xiaoye Wang, a 39-year-old computer software engineer, and for hindering her apprehension and prosecution by attempting to flee the country, according to information provided by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.
Li appealed her conviction for first degree murder and third degree hindering apprehension in connection to the thallium poisoning of her husband.
She was sentenced on Sept. 20, 2013, to life in prison. The judge ordered her to serve at least 62 years and six months, which represents 85 percent of the term, before she can be eligible for parole, according to the statement.
The judge also imposed a five-year term for the hindering count but said it will be served concurrently to the life term.
During the six-week trial, Middlesex County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Christie L. Bevacqua and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Allysa B. Gambarella presented evidence and testimony showing Li administered poison to her husband in Monroe. The prosecution further showed that following the death of Wang, Li attempted to flee the country, according to the statement.
It was further proven that Li, who had been employed for 10 years as a chemist at Bristol-Myers Squibb, had obtained the thallium, a highly-toxic metal, and administered a portion of the substance to her husband between Nov. 16, 2010, and Jan. 26, 2011, according to the statement.
After becoming ill with apparent flu-like symptoms, Wang admitted himself to the University Medical Center at Princeton on Jan. 14, 2011, for treatment. A series of tests determined he had been poisoned with thallium. Wang died at the hospital the following day, according to the statement.