Jason Chen found guilty in 2022 murder of Jasmine Pace

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  After seven days of testimony, a verdict has been reached in the murder trial of Jason Chen.

The Pace family has had to experience grief for well over two years, that no family should ever have to endure.

Their daughter, Jasmine Pace, was killed on the night of November 22, 2022.

They have long awaited to hear one word, and on Monday afternoon, they finally got to hear that word.

To cheers in the gallery, Jason Chen was found guilty of first degree, premeditated murder and abuse of a corpse in the killing of Jasmine Pace.

The prosecution successfully proved to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Chen had planned, killed, and then acted in a way after Pace’s death that proved premeditation.

Chief Homicide Prosecutor for the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office and Co-Consul in this trial, Paul Moyle, told the jury, “Mr. Chen accelerated, kept going, didn’t stop. I want you to keep that as you are going through the proof. How many opportunities did Mr. Chen have to take the off-ramp away from violence, away from murder, away from 60 stab wounds?”

Chen himself decided not to testify in this case Monday morning before the defense rested its case after one full day of testimony on Saturday.

The defense tried to argue that there was not enough evidence for premeditation, and attempted to get the jury to convict Chen on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Chen’s defense co-consul, Amanda Morrison told the jury, “Jason Chen was scared. Jasmine’s upset. Jason’s upset, and Jason killed Jasmine.”

However, Hamilton County District Attorney and lead prosecutor on this case, Coty Wamp, said the defense changed their story multiple times throughout the trial.

She asked the jury to remember the victim, Jasmine Pace, as they made their decision.

She implored the jury, “Victims matter! Jasmine Pace is not just some girl listed in an autopsy report. She is not the photos that you have seen. Don’t minimize her to a name on an indictment.”

The sentencing hearing will be on Tuesday.

Chen is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We expect to the Pace family get a chance to confront the man who is the convicted killer of Jasmine Pace.