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Judge Unseals Records After Defense Challenges Sealed Murder Case

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 10:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Meier Unseals Records

Judge Diane Meier unsealed the murder case records after attorney Benjamin Murray challenged the sealing.
The identity of the judge who originally sealed the files remains undisclosed, drawing criticism from First Amendment specialists.
First Amendment Coalition’s David Loy called the blanket sealing an egregious breach of open-court principles.
Public defender’s office warned that Zhang’s frail health and dementia raise humanitarian concerns about his continued incarceration.

Summary

Chen, Zhang Not Guilty

Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder of Jonathan McKinsey.
Prosecutors allege the pair waited in a Dublin Sports Grounds parking lot and fired on Sept. 26.
Police recovered two handguns and identified a black Honda that fled the scene.
Defense attorney Curtis Briggs says they acted out of fear after McKinsey threatened them, with bail set for Nov. 4.

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Meier Unseals Records

Judge Diane Meier unsealed the murder case records after attorney Benjamin Murray challenged the sealing.
The identity of the judge who originally sealed the files remains undisclosed, drawing criticism from First Amendment specialists.
First Amendment Coalition’s David Loy called the blanket sealing an egregious breach of open-court principles.
Public defender’s office warned that Zhang’s frail health and dementia raise humanitarian concerns about his continued incarceration.

1 / 2