Accused Murderer Enters Insanity Plea

, the Fremont landscaper accused of the 2009 murder of a Cupertino woman entered a "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea on Aug. 8, and will undergo psychiatric evaluation by two San Francisco doctors, an official said.

The doctors' report is expected in six weeks, according to Matt Braker, deputy district attorney.

Zhao faces murder charges of Wei Wei Li and attempted murder charges of her husband, Bing Yi, who survived an attack but was left permanent vision and balance problems as a result.

Burglary charges are included in the line-up of charges against Zhao, who was hired to landscape the Cupertino couple's property.

The Fremont man is accused of attacking the couple on April 17, 2009, with a pickax landscaping tool after a dispute over Zhao’s salary and the landscaping work he was expected to complete, Braker said.

Arrested on May 5, 2009, in southern California, Zhao faces 26 years to life in prison.  

“He ran away, and the police had to find out where he was,” Braker told Patch in an earlier interview.  

Zhao has been in prison since his arrest with no bail, Braker added.

Zhao allegedly first attacked Bing Yi Li, the husband, by slashing him in the head with a pickax.

“He then went into the house and attacked (Li), and killed her with the same tool in the same manner,” Braker said. “He bludgeoned her to death.”

Zhao allegedly attacked Li, the wife, to stop her from calling the police. Li died from the wounds suffered in the attack while the couple’s two children were still in the house, Braker said.  

One of the children called police after Zhao fled from the home. Neither of the children were hurt.