By Tam Nguyen, Nguoi Viet
SANTA ANA, Calif. ― Another schedule conflict has caused a third postponement related of the Kim Pham murder trial.
Vanesa Zavala, left, and Candace Marie Brito remain in custody, charged in the death of Kim Pham of Westminster. (File photo by Mark Boster, Pool/Getty Images)
Judge Thomas M. Goethals on Monday granted another delay in the case of Candice Brito, 27, and Vanesa Zavala, 25. As was true at the last postponement, Brito’s attorney, Michael Molfetta, is tied up with another case and is not available to begin trial. He was not in court Monday.
Kenneth Reed represents Zavala and was in court. Neither defendant attended Monday’s proceedings in Orange County Superior Court and remain in custody.
Pham, 23, from Westminster, was assaulted outside of the Crosby nightclub in Santa Ana in January. Two days after the attack, she was removed from life support. She died from blunt-force trauma to the head, according to the Orange County Coroner’s office.
Goethals showed his impatience with the continued delays.
“I would like to get this case going, and I’m sure all of you (counsel) want the same as well,” during Monday’s brief hearing.
District Attorney Troy Pino also wants to trial to start as soon as possible. Outside the court, he said a start date after Memorial Day is possible but not a sure thing.
“The latest for the trial to start is maybe in mid-June,” he said. “There is nothing else we can do until Molfetta’s schedule is open.”
