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Penalty phase closing arguments underway for woman convicted of killing Westminster fortune teller
A woman who killed a Westminster fortune teller and her daughter deserves the death penalty because she is "cold-blooded, black-hearted," and a "monster," a prosecutor said today in closing arguments in the penalty phase of her trial.
The Santa Ana jury that convicted Tanya Jaime Nelson of special- circumstance murder Feb. 16 are tasked with recommending one of two possible sentences: death or a no-parole life prison term.
Nelson, with her friend, Phillipe Zamora, 55, fatally stabbed fortune teller Ha Smith, 52, and Smith's 23-year-old daughter Anita Vo, on April 21, 2005. Nelson was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special- circumstance allegations of burglary, robbery and lying in wait.
In arguing for the death penalty for the defendant, Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste said Nelson was a "narcissistic, selfish, cold-blooded, black-hearted evil woman."
Nelson tried to get her son, George Nguyen, to help kill Asia Nguyen – the wife of her husband's brother, Loi Nguyen – because she was distraught her affair with Loi Nguyen had ended, the prosecutor said.
"She tried to use her own son to do her dirty work," Balleste said. "That is evil incarnate."
Nelson took the gun from her son and used it to beat Loi Nguyen on Dec. 17, 2004, Balleste said.
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Balleste said Nelson knew Smith for 20 years and that Smith opened her home to Nelson, not suspecting that Nelson planned to kill the fortune teller.
Nelson was angry that Smith told her that she could not give her a fortune that involved Nelson's reunion with her husband's brother, according to Balleste.
Nelson was a former Orange County resident who moved to Roanoke Rapids, N.C., where she met Phillipe Zamora. She got Zamora to join her on her trip back to Westminster in 2005 with the promise of introducing him to gay sex partners, according to authorities.
When they went to Smith's home, Nelson began stabbing Vo, and Zamora – who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder – testified for prosecutors that he started stabbing Smith to stop her screaming for help. Zamora is scheduled to be sentenced March 19.
Nelson stole some of Smith's valuables and credit cards and went on a shopping spree, according to Balleste.
Nelson's attorney, Ken Reed, unsuccessfully argued during the trial that Zamora acted alone.
Balleste told jurors to reject any characterization of Nelson as a loving mother or a Christian as some of her loved ones have testified.
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"She's a monster. She doesn't look like a bogeyman, but she is," Balleste said. "That's what makes her so dangerous."
Balleste pointed out how Nelson started killing Vo in front of her mother, Smith.
"I don't know what could be more cruel than to kill someone's child in front of them," Balleste said. "So, if you heard at some point that she was compassionate, you know better."
Reed will make his closing arguments this afternoon.
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