Judge Won’t Suppress Confession

A district judge has rejected a defense bid to suppress the alleged confession of a former University of Idaho graduate student charged with the Memorial Day slayings of a graduate student and his wife.

Second District Judge John Bengtson did not accept the contention of Public Defender Michael Henegen that Wenkai Li was coerced into admitting he killed Ning Li and his wife Xia Ge shortly after his arrest in western Wyoming five days after the slayings.

Henegen maintained Li, being unfamiliar with the American legal system, was duped into confessing by Wyoming authorities who he claimed tried to distract Li from asking for an attorney.

But deputy Latah County prosecutor Robin Eckmann pointed out that on two different occasions the record of the conversation between Wyoming authorities and Li showed he refused an attorney.

Bengtson said he found nothing to suggest the statements were not made freely and voluntarily.

“It’s pretty clear Mr. Li understood what was going on,” Bengtson said.

During questioning earlier in the month, Eckmann persuaded Li to acknowledge that he remembered little about the initial questioning by Wyoming officials and that he did not believe he was coerced.

Li is scheduled to go on trial on Nov. 6 on two counts of first-degree murder, which carry the death penalty on conviction.

Jury selection was expected to take a week.