Defense: Chen killed Pace but did not “premeditate” her murder in opening day of trial

The suitcase Jasmine Pace was discovered in on Suck Creek Road, being shown to jurors by Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- After an intense and emotional process taking over two years, a Chattanooga man is facing a trial where he is charged with first degree murder.

Jason Chen is charged with first degree murder in the November 2022 death of Jasmine Pace.

After some last minute debate over whether or not a forensic psychologist should testify in this hearing, the Jason Murder murder trial finally got underway on Monday afternoon, and for the first time, we are hearing Jason Chen’s version of events on the night that Jasmine Pace died.

With the suitcase that Pace was found in, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp argues that the evidence in her view proves that Chen premeditated her murder, showing the jury, “In this suitcase, Jason Chen stuck the 98 pound body of Jasmine Pace.”

However, Chen’s defense attorney, Joshua Weiss, argues the murder stemmed from a fight between the couple.

Weiss described Chen’s version of events.

He says the violence began after Pace discovered that Chen was receiving messages from other women.

Weiss said, “He gets back to his bedroom, Jasmine is right there, coming at him with this broken glass. Jason sees the knife, and he reacts, and he stabs. He blacked out.”

While Weiss admitted that Chen killed Pace, Weiss argues he did not plan the killing.

He said,  “Jason Chen should be found guilty of a the crime he did, not the crime he didn’t do.”

Meanwhile, a forensic psychologist, Dr. Douglas Lewis, retained by Weiss, attempted to be qualified as an expert witness.

While Hamilton County Judge Boyd Patterson did not grant that request, Dr. Lewis did offer his opinion without the jury present on if Chen could have premeditated the killing.

Dr. Lewis said, “I saw that in the discovery multiple times that individuals indicated he had a mental condition, I disagree.”

General Wamp asked, “Because Jason told you that he did?”

Dr. Lewis said, “No, he actually did not.”

In front of the jury, Pace’s mother, Catrina Bean, reiterated from earlier she went to great lengths to find her daughter while she was missing.

Bean said, “I took a credit card from my wallet at the time, and we broke into his apartment, I just knew.”

Weiss argued this was inconsistent with her previous testimony.

The prosecution will continue building their case on Tuesday.