New details have emerged in a high-profile murder case in Tennessee during a court hearing held on Thursday. Jason Chen, a 24-year-old, is facing first-degree murder charges in the tragic death of Jasmine “Jazzy” Pace, who was just 22 years old.
The story begins with Jason and Jasmine, who were in a relationship. Jasmine went missing on November 22, 2022, and her family reported her disappearance soon after. By the end of that month, Jason Chen was charged with her murder. Jasmine’s body was discovered on December 1, 2022, in a remote area near Suck Creek Road in Chattanooga. Police found her wrapped in a garbage bag and stuffed inside a suitcase. The details were horrifying—her wrists and ankles were bound, and investigators revealed she had been stabbed around 60 times.
During Thursday’s hearing, one of the key points of contention was a video captured on a police officer’s body camera during a search at Jason Chen’s home. The defense argued that the video shouldn’t be shown to the jury because it was unfair and didn’t add anything meaningful to the case. The footage shows Chen being led away in handcuffs, partially undressed, and speaking in Mandarin to his parents while police searched the house.
Chen’s attorney criticized the police for how the arrest unfolded, pointing out that there was no Miranda warning and that Chen had been used as a translator during the process. The lawyer also said showing the video would be prejudicial, as it might make jurors assume Chen was guilty just because he was in handcuffs. Additionally, the defense raised concerns about language barriers in the video, worrying that jurors might misinterpret what was said in Mandarin.
Judge Boyd M. Patterson seemed to understand some of the defense’s concerns. He noted that without accurate translations, there was a risk of misunderstanding the footage. He even mentioned that jurors might wrongly believe they know enough Mandarin to interpret what was happening, leading to mistakes.
The prosecution, however, argued that the video was important for the case. They said it showed Chen’s demeanor during the search and his connection to specific evidence, like a red hat he was wearing. This hat, they claimed, appeared in other surveillance footage from different locations on different days, making it highly relevant to the investigation.
Chen’s lawyer pushed back, calling the video’s potential impact on the jury unfair. The defense argued that seeing someone arrested and handcuffed could easily sway jurors against the defendant, even though nothing incriminating was said in the footage.
In the end, the judge tried to strike a balance. He agreed that parts of the video could be unfairly prejudicial but acknowledged that some elements, like the red hat, were relevant. He asked the prosecution to edit the video down to a brief 30-second clip focusing on Chen’s demeanor and the specific evidence. The judge will review the edited footage before making a final decision.
Thursday’s hearing also covered other legal arguments. The judge denied a defense request to stop referring to Jasmine Pace as a “victim” during the trial. He also allowed prosecutors to use an illustration created by a state medical expert. This illustration combines various photos of the suitcase where Jasmine was found and highlights details like the handcuffs pressing through the fabric.
Jury selection for the trial is set to begin next Wednesday, with opening arguments scheduled for January 13. The case has drawn significant attention, and the trial is expected to reveal even more about what happened in this heartbreaking story.
