Elderly couple pleads not guilty in death of New York Times executive

A 77-year-old couple accused of shooting their son-in-law, a NYT executive, at a California park in September entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder.

Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times executive, according to their defense attorney Curtis Briggs. McKinsey was shot in a Dublin, California park parking lot on September 26.

Briggs argued the couple did not premeditate the shooting and acted out of concern for their safety and their grandchildren after witnessing something disturbing during McKinsey's supervised visit with his children. The attorney stated McKinsey had previously threatened Chen's life three times through a hit man, and the couple purchased firearms in March for self-defense.

Prosecutors allege Chen and Zhang watched and waited in the parking lot to attack McKinsey, who was embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle with their daughter. If convicted, both face life in prison without parole. A bail hearing is scheduled for November 4.