(NECN: Alysha Palumbo - Newburyport, MA) - Prosecutors painted a picture of a brutal, premeditated killing Tuesday – as two of the three men charged with first degree murder in the death of popular Ipswich restaurant owner Tony Woo were arraigned.
They say 34-year-old Sifa Lee and 46-year-old Cheng Sun road a bus up to Quincy to meet with 29-year-old Jun Lin, who then allegedly drove the three of them in his taxi cab to the Majestic Dragon restaurant – where Woo was found dead.
“He was bound both at the feet and at his hands and had a ligature about his neck, his physical injuries showed that he was brutally bludgeoned, repeatedly stabbed, with visible trauma and multiple stab wounds to his head and body, as well as substantial injury to his neck and larynx,” said Prosecutor Kristin Buxton.
Prosecutors would not specifically get into a motive for the murder, but suggested it may have been an attempted robbery.
“Evidence within the restaurant indicates that access was unsuccessfully attempted into a safe located in the same office where Mr. Woo’s body was found,” said Buxton.
Neither defense attorney disputed the facts, but Sifa Lee’s attorney successfully argued that he be admitted to Bridgewater State Hospital to undergo a competency and psychological evaluation.
"Lee is not competent to plead, nor is he competent to understand the proceedings against him,” said Sifa Lee’s attorney Lawrence McGuire.
The third defendant Cheng Sun did not appear in court today because he did not waive extradition.
Sun is still in custody in New York City.
Lee and Lin are being held without bail.
They are due back in court for a probable cause hearing on November 17.
