Press Release  Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in 2011 Ipswich Murder

Salem, Massachusetts — Jun Di Lin, 32, pleaded guilty today in Salem Superior Court to manslaughter, intimidate to rob and armed assault to rob a person over 60 years old in connection with the September 27, 2011 beating death of Tony Woo at his Ipswich restaurant.  The Commonwealth and Defense jointly recommended a  15- to 25 year state prison sentence followed by 5 years of probation.  Judge Timothy Feeley will impose sentence on March 2, 2015.

“Today my thoughts are with the family and friends of Tony Woo, whose senseless murder shocked and saddened all who knew him,” District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said.  “Today’s plea agreement is one step closer to justice for his family.”

Had the case gone to trial, Essex Assistant District Attorney Kristen Buxton would have introduced evidence that would have proven that on September 27, 2011, the defendant drove his two co-defendants, Cheng Sun and Sifa Lee, to the Majestic Dragon restaurant on Route 1 in Ipswich.  Mr. Lin eventually went into the restaurant through a sky light with the two co-defendants.  Mr. Lin was wearing a baseball hat given to him by Mr. Lee and the men were armed with a crowbar, a knife and a hammer.  They discovered the victim, 62-year-old, Shui Keung (Tony) Woo, asleep on a cot in his office near the safe.  They began to strike him and ordered him to open the safe.  Mr. Woo agreed and tried to open it but one of the defendants continued to strike him.  After he collapsed, they dragged his body away from the unopened safe and fled.  The baseball hat worn by Mr. Lin fell off in the kitchen and DNA evidence collected from the hat was consistent with Mr. Lin and Mr. Lee.

Mr. Woo’s body was found later that morning by his employees.  The medical examiner found that Mr. Woo died from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries and asphyxia due to strangulation.

Cheng Sun and Sifa Lee are charged with first degree murder, intimidate to rob and armed assault to rob a person over 60 years old.  Their trial is scheduled for October 14, 2014 and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Mr. Lin represented by Attorney Frank Santisi and continues to be held without bail.

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