But the police investigation, the crown investigation and the trials, however, continued to focus on Lu and after three years fearing she would go to jail every day, the young woman says, she pleaded guilty.
"I just wanted to get it over with," Lu said.
Many questions remain unanswered:
* How did a 98-pound woman move a 135-pound dead body from the third floor apartment to the backyard, leaving just traces of blood on a stair, and a smudge on the wall?
* With at least six families in the building and Zhao's father in an adjoining room, how could no one have seen, or heard, a thing?
* Why were alleged links to organized crime not investigated more thoroughly?
Bill Lai, a former police officer, acted as interpreter at Lu's trial.
In an interview with The Whig-Standard, he described Zhao as "mentally retarded" and said the young man "did not know how to perform as a husband."
Lai says Zhao was dim enough to have inflicted the wounds himself. Whoever found him unconscious probably dressed him hurriedly in readiness for an ambulance.
There was a 911 call placed the day prior to the discovery of Zhao's body, Lai said, but the English-speaking dispatcher didn't understand her Chinese called and an ambulance was never sent.
If Zhao was murdered, it was over a gambling debt and Lai believes more than one person was involved.
Zhao's own father suggested, in his testimony, that a brick may have been used.
Lai regrets advising Lu to take the plea bargain.
"Nobody really believes Lucy did it," Lai said. "Lucy is such a decent lady. She's no killer."
As far as Immigration officials are concerned, the unanswered questions are moot in view of Lu's plea bargain.
Letters from police officers, lawyers, parole officers and members of the public protesting Lu's innocence and begging for leniency have fallen on deaf ears.
Though they have waffled between assuring the public Lu presents no danger and calling her a dangerous criminal, Immigration continues to be steadfast in its intent to deport her.
She is now in Canada illegally. As things stand, if she doesn't come out of the church to attend a hearing in Toronto on Monday, the Immigration Appeal Board may remove Lu's power to appeal.
If that happens, she will never be legally permitted to remain in Canada.
If she is returned to China, that country's Criminal Code allows for Lu to be re-tried and possibly executed for her husband's death.
Lu is a Christian and an outspoken critic of China's human rights abuses.
Though the Supreme Court ruled recently that Canada may not deport foreigners who face torture or execution, Immigration Canada takes the position that Lu is in no danger.
The Immigration Appeal Board agrees and its order to appear, issued Wednesday, appears more concerned with Lu's defiance of a direct order than with any consequences she might suffer if she comes out of the church.
"The applicant's conduct is unacceptable because of its lack of regard for due process," writes the board. "She wishes to avail herself of due process, but only if it gives her the result she wants."
Lu says she will not come out of the church Monday morning. Her lawyer, Stephen LeDrew, will attempt to persuage the board to hear Lu's deportation appeal anyway.
"It is in the interests of justice they hear this woman's case," LeDrew said yesterday.
"The board has said it is unlikely it will hear the case. It doesn't mean it can't hear it.
"It can and it should."