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MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING BUSINESS PARTNER FOR FINANCIAL GAIN TO ASSUME FULL CONTROL OF THE COMPANY

Posted by Fay Arfa | Dec 08, 2018 | 0 Comments

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of murdering his business partner in their San Juan Capistrano office to gain control of the victim's shares of the company.

Defendant Charges Maximum Sentence Court Date
Edward Younghoon Shin, 41, Irvine Found guilty by a jury on Dec. 7, 2018, of the following felony count:
  • Murder

Sentencing Enhancement found true:

  • Special circumstances – Murder for financial gain
Life in state prison without the possibility of parole Sentencing

Feb. 1, 2018

Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

  • In 2010, Shin co-owned an Internet advertising business, 800xchange, with 33-year-old Christopher Smith.
  • On June 4, 2010, Shin murdered Smith in their San Juan Capistrano office and disposed of the body. He committed the murder for financial gain with the intention of gaining full ownership of the business.
  • After the murder, Shin produced documents containing a false signature from Smith signing the rights of the business over to defendant.
  • Smith lived in the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Police Department began investigating this case as a missing persons case based on a report filed by the victim's family in April 2011.
  • The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) took over as the lead investigating agency based on evidence that the victim had been murdered in San Juan Capistrano.
  • Shin was arrested on Aug. 28, 2011, by OCSD Investigators at Los Angeles International Airport sitting onboard a flight awaiting departure to Canada.

About the Author

Fay Arfa

Fay Arfa has the distinction of being Certified as a Specialist in two separate areas of law – Criminal Law as well as Appellate Law – by the California State Bar, Board of Specialization. The National Board of Trial Advocacy has also awarded her a board Certification in Criminal Trial Advocacy. ...

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