Man who fatally stabbed 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee was sentenced to 30 years-to-life in state prison

Christina Yuna Lee (victim)

On July 30, it was announced that Assamad Nash, the man who admitted to killing 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee, was sentenced to 30 years-to-life in state prison by Judge Laura Ward.

On February 13, 2022, 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee was fatally stabbed inside her Chinatown NYC apartment. According to court documents, and as admitted to in the defendant’s guilty plea, Ms. Lee entered her apartment around 4:20a near Grand Street and Chrystie Street. Nash then followed the victim into her apartment and up six flights of stairs before he pushed his way inside her apartment, attempted to sexually assault her, and then murdered her by stabbing her more than 40 times.

“Christina Yuna Lee was killed in an unthinkably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash,” said District Attorney Bragg in a press release. “Ms. Yuna Lee was a creative, kind and joyful person and her death not only devastated her family but left a lasting impact on an entire community. I hope the resolution of this case offers comfort and a sense of justice for everyone that has been touched by Ms. Yuna Lee’s life and this tragedy. May her legacy be celebrated for years to come.”

Sungkon Lee (victim’s father)
Photo: Dean Moses / AMNY

“The murder was horrific, and no amount of sentencing can be of comfort to Christina, who died unjustly, or to her family,” Sungkon Lee, the victim’s father, said in his impact statement. “The New York State’s Bail Reform Law. Due to this law, various crimes were committed at the time. A criminal who should be in prison, was instead wandering around the city and committing other crimes. This is what happened in this case. Christina was brutally and viciously murdered by the murderer who should have been in jail.”

“After Christina died, the remaining family members have been having a hard time living each day, feeling overwhelmed with longing and regret,” Mr. Lee also said during his impact statement, per Daily News. “Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen to our family? I just feel resentful that God is giving my family this ordeal.”

In response, Judge Ward said, “I wish there was something that I could do to make this better, but there is very little I have no power in that respect. It is completely unnatural for a father to have to bury a child. Mr. Nash, although he has serious mental deficiencies, as the people indicated, there are no medications that are available that can protect the society. It is, in this court’s belief, that the defendant should be sentenced as agreed upon by the parties.”

Christina’s family hopes to have a homeless shelter named in honor of their daughter. “My family is currently pursuing a lawsuit against New York City. But what my family really wants is not compensation,” Mr. Lee said. “Instead, we want Christina’s memory to be remembered and to prevent others from having a similar fate.”