Man gets 15-to-life in prison for murder of Oakland dentist Lili Xu

( KRON ) — A man who admitted to killing Oakland dentist Lili Xu in 2022 received 15 years to life in prison on Tuesday, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced. Hasheem Bason, 35, of Stockton, pled guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot.

Xu, 60, was getting out of her car on the 1000 block of 5th Avenue on Aug. 21, 2022, when she was fatally shot. Bason and 73-year-old Nelson Chia were arrested in connection with the murder.

Chia, who was Xu’s partner at the time of her death, later killed himself in prison while he was in a single-person holding cell.

Price’s office shared more information on Tuesday about how the murder plot unfolded and how Chia and Bason developed a relationship.

Before Xu was killed, Chia was attempting to take control of her “sizable” assets, according to the DA’s office. He also cheated on Xu in the months before her murder.

“Further investigation uncovered evidence of Mr. Chia openly discussing how he could capitalize on Dr. Xu’s death,” Price’s office wrote.

Bason was described by the DA’s office as “one of the participants in Chia’s scheme.” They first met each other years earlier.

Chia developed an “inappropriate exploitative relationship” with Bason when Bason was younger. He found Bason again years later and threatened to reveal secrets from his youth if he did not help him murder Xu.

After the crime was committed, Chia held a banquet in Xu’s honor in an apparent attempt to raise money for his own foundation. He played the part of a grieving partner but was later arrested for his involvement in the murder, along with Bason.

“The public should know that the person who truly deserves the maximum punishment under the law is Nelson Chia, the mastermind of this horrible crime,” Price said.

Price was asked about Xu’s son reportedly being upset with the plea deal. She said she considered the unique dynamics of Bason and Chia’s relationship when determining punishment.

“In this case, we learned extreme mitigating circumstances that had to be considered in resolving this case against Mr. Bason,” she said.

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