A man accused of killing his two nephews in Arcadia, then fleeing to Hong Kong, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder charges.
Deyun "Jeff" Shi, 44, is charged with killing William Lin, 15, and Anthony Lin, 16, both of whom were found dead by their parents Jan. 22 at their home in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue.
The criminal complaint alleges that Shi used a bolt cutter in the commission of the crime.
Authorities allege that Shi killed the teenagers after becoming enraged that his estranged wife had obtained a restraining order against him and was seeking a divorce.
The teens were home alone at the time of the attack, authorities said.
Their parents had gone to the hospital to visit their aunt, who allegedly had been assaulted by Shi at her La Canada Flintridge home Jan. 21.
In addition to the murder charges, Shi is charged with a felony count of injuring a spouse. That charge includes an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury and used a maul — a type of hammer — in that crime.
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Authorities say that after the killings, Shi — a Chinese national in the United States on a business visa — left his vehicle at Los Angeles International Airport and flew to Hong Kong. He was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport upon his arrival there and returned to Los Angeles last month in the custody of Sheriff's Homicide Bureau detectives and FBI agents.
China has no extradition treaty with the United States, but Hong Kong has allowed the return of fugitives through a mutual legal assistance arrangement with the U.S. since 1998.
Shi remains jailed without bail. He is due back in a Pasadena courtroom June 22, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
He faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the charges, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
