Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Kim Pham's Gangster Friends Were 'Aggressors' In Nightclub Fight, Defense Attorney Says
Kim Pham died after a brutal beating outside of a Santa Ana nightclub (Photo via Justice for Kim Pham Facebook)
()
The defense attorney for one of the suspects accused of fatally beating Annie Hung "Kim" Pham outside of a Santa Ana nightclub says Pham's group that she was with that night are part of an Asian gang.
Vanesa Zavala, 25, and Candace Brito, 27, are the suspects charged with murder for the stomping of 23-year-old Pham outside The Crosby on Jan. 18 and are scheduled to be arraigned in court Friday. However, defense attorney Michael Molfetta, who represents Brito, said on Thursday that a new witness statement reveals Pham's group of friends are part of gang—and he thinks that changes everything, according to City News Service:
"There have been some developments in the case that directly implicate the Asians standing in line in terms of gang affiliation,'' Molfetta said. "They were the aggressors, the instigators."
According to their defense attorneys, this means that Zavala and Brito were just acting in self defense against this alleged Asian gang, reported the OC Register:
Support for LAist comes from
"It changes everything," said Zavala’s attorney Ken Reed. "Self defense is always an objective analysis of the reasonableness of a person’s actions." "Anybody who doesn’t think that this completely changes this case and what occurred that night is completely out of their mind," Brito’s lawyer Michael Molfetta said. "You can understand (Brito and Zavala’s) concern. And, there’s not a scintilla of evidence that any of the Hispanic group (in the fight) had anything to do with gangs."
Molfetta accused the prosecutors of knowing about this witness shortly after the beating, but the defense attorneys had only heard about it now. He said this evidence should have been presented at the preliminary hearing.
"It explains what occurred and why it occurred and it puts to rest this ridiculous assertion that a lack of cooperation from the Asian community in this case was somehow a cultural thing,'' Molfetta said, reported City News Service. "Now we know why. Gang members do not cooperate with law enforcement.''
Senior Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino disagrees that this is a gang-related case. Video recorded from a witness' camera phone captured the melee. Pino argued in the preliminary hearing that Brito "sucker-punched" and kicked Pham and Zavala gave her the final kick that left her unmoving on the sidewalk, reported City News Service. Zavala asserts that Pham and Emilia got in an argument and Pham threw the first punch but missed Emilia and hit Zavala.
"It doesn't matter who was the initial aggressor," Pino said, reported City News Service. "The bottom line is she's on the ground defenseless as these two defendants kick her in the head. And that's what killed her."
UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: Brito and Zavala pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in court today, according to City News Service.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility. -
UCLA and University of California leaders are fighting Trump’s demands for a $1.2 billion settlement over a litany of accusations, including that the campus permits antisemitism. -
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’
Best of LAist