Man Pleads Not Guilty in Death of Honor Student Tay

Robert C. Chan pleaded not guilty Friday in the New Year’s Eve killing of Stuart A. Tay, a high school honor student.

Chan, 18, also denied the allegations that brutality and premeditation existed in the slaying. Prosecutors have said the special circumstances could make Chan eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Authorities allege that Tay was lured to a Buena Park home, beaten with baseball bats and a sledgehammer, then had rubbing alcohol poured down his throat. He was then buried in the back yard.

The defendant’s mother, Suh Chan, and cousin, Jack Lin, attended the brief hearing in Municipal Court in Santa Ana. Lin, a third-year law student at UCLA, will be assisting attorney Marshall Schulman in Chan’s defense.

A preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 18. Four other defendants, all juveniles, are scheduled for a hearing on Friday to determine whether they will be tried as adults.

Attorneys on both sides declined to discuss details of the case Friday.

“It’s just a plea of not guilty, that’s all it is. That’s just the normal process,” Schulman said as he rushed from the courtroom. “Our side has been critical of the amount of comments the other defendants have made, so I don’t think we should make any more comments.”