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Woman Charged With Murder In Brutal Nightclub Beating
A woman has been charged in the fatal beating of a woman outside a Santa Ana nightclub last weekend.
Vanessa Tapia Zavala, 25, was arrested on Monday, and today she was charged with murder in the death of 23-year-old Annie Hung "Kim" Pham, according to City News Service. Zavala is expected to be arraigned in Santa Ana this afternoon, and she could face 15 years to life in prison if she's convicted. Four other suspects—two women and two men—are still at large in Pham's death, police say.
Pham was beaten outside the Crosby Bar and Nightclub in Santa Ana early on Saturday morning. A fight broke out while Pham was waiting to get into the club with some friends, and video captured part of the fight. A bouncer was unable to break up the fight, and by the time authorities arrived, Pham was unconscious.
Though she was declared brain dead on Sunday, she was kept on life support while her organs were harvested. She was taken off life support Tuesday.
Anyone with information about the brawl was asked to call Santa Ana police at (714) 245-8390.
UPDATE 3:22 P.M.: Zavala has pleaded not guilty in Pham's death, City News Service reports. She will be due back in court on Jan. 30.
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