Trial date changed in Modesto restaurant owner's killing

A judge on Friday rescheduled a trial to start Oct. 21 for a Modesto man accused of bludgeoning his boss to death with a meat cleaver.

Zhi Jian Mei, 30, is accused of killing Wing Ming Chan, 47, of Modesto. Mei has been charged with murder and robbery, along with enhancements on suspicion of using a deadly weapon while committing the crimes.

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Nancy Ashley postponed the trial because Mei has a new defense attorney, Mark Sullivan, who needs time to prepare for the trial. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

Chan's death occurred sometime after 9 p.m. May 4, 2011, at his restaurant, China Gourmet, in the Century Center shopping plaza on Oakdale Road in Modesto.