BONUS EPISODE: Jason Chen Case Update: Motion for New Trial Denied

SEQUESTERED Podcast

Road Trip Studios

True Crime, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.1 • 802 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2026

⏱️ 5 minutes

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Summary

On May 4, 2026, Jason Chen returned to Hamilton County Criminal Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, asking for a new trial in the murder case of Jasmine Pace.

Chen's defense argued that issues from the original trial warranted another chance to make his case, including questions about evidence, the search of Chen's apartment, and the presence of Jasmine's family members in the courtroom. Judge Boyd Patterson denied the motion, stating that the arguments had already been litigated and that the court would rely on the same conclusions previously reached.

For Sara Reid, Juror Number 11 in the original trial, this update is not just a legal development. It is a return to the courtroom, the evidence, the verdict, and the weight of what the jury was asked to decide.

In this bonus episode of SEQUESTERED, Sara walks through the latest ruling, what it means for the conviction and sentence, and why Jasmine Pace remains at the center of this story.

The verdict stands. The sentence remains in place. And Jasmine is not forgotten.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Sarah Reed, and I was juror number 11 in the trial of Jason Chen, the man convicted of murdering Jasmine Pace.
0:11.3	Whether you followed this case with us, or if you're hearing it for the first time, there's been a new development.
0:18.5	On May 4, 2006, Jason Chen returned to court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, asking for a new development. On May 4th, 2006, Jason Chen returned to court in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
0:23.6	asking for a new trial.
0:25.6	And convicted of killing his girlfriend, Jasmine Pace, was back in court today.
0:30.6	He believes he did not receive a fair trial in his case should be heard again.
0:34.6	Jason Chen appeared before a judge in Hamilton County just hours ago
0:39.3	as the defense team filed a motion for a new trial pointing to dozens of examples where they believe
0:44.5	Chen's last case fell short. The brief points to problems with the custody of evidence, the
0:50.1	involvement of Pace's family, the search of Chen's apartment, and more.
1:00.6	The hearing took place at the Hamilton County Criminal Courthouse in the same courtroom.
1:07.8	Chen's attorney, Amanda Morrison, argued that the original trial was unfair and that his case should be heard again. Issues were raised about the custody of evidence,
1:12.6	the search of Chen's apartment, and Jasmine's family being present inside the courtroom.
1:18.4	Chen's attorney honed in on the fact that some of Jasmine's family members, including those
1:23.6	who were witnesses for the state, had remained inside the courtroom during the trial.
1:28.9	Normally, witnesses can be excluded so they don't hear other testimony before giving their own,
1:34.5	and the defense argued that this should have prevented those family members from being present.
1:39.6	But Judge Boyd Patterson addressed that directly, stating, quote,
1:46.2	the Constitution does allow victims' families to be in the courtroom. Patterson also addressed the larger list of issues
1:51.7	that were raised in Chen's motion, making clear that those arguments had already been considered
1:56.8	during the trial. He said, quote, all of those were litigated at length, and the court ruled on the
2:03.1	same conclusions that were arrived at, end quote. I sat through that trial for nine days in January of
	...

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