Kim Pham Murder Hearing: Witnesses Give Conflicting Testimony [Video]


The death of Kim Pham during the nightclub beating has put Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala in jail. Although there is supposedly a third suspect, the evidence for the two women’s alleged crime went before a judge today in a hearing to determine whether they should be charged. Both are pleading not guilty at this time.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, even before the hearing began the defense lawyers for Brito and Zavala were claiming Kim Pham was at fault for her own death, saying that the victim instigated the fight by throwing the first punch. Some reports even claim Kim Pham’s photobomb of one of the suspects is said to have triggered the fight.

As you might expect, the other side is saying something completely different. Even though Kim Pham’s friends are apparently avoiding police now, Officer Gerardo Corona said three people from Pham’s group, including her ex-boyfriend, gave witness statements at the scene of the crime. They claim Pham was innocently standing in line when one of the three suspects bumped into Kim, started an argument lasting a few seconds, and then began punching her. Witnesses also claim she was punched at least 10 times while on her feet. A final kick to the head while she was on the ground then rendered her unconscious.

Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala silently listened to this testimony but their defense lawyers objected to the portrayal of the events. They challenged the police officer’s testimony that indicated Pham was attacked with no provocation. They also highlighted how Pham’s friends were the only witnesses to speak with police at the scene and how this testimony conflicted with bystander reports that Kim Pham punched first. It’s also claimed in some reports that Zavala was knocked to the ground early in the brawl and it was a third suspect who delivered the final kick, not Zavala or Brito. But one of Pham’s friends identified Zavala in a lineup as being this third woman even though she claims she was busy crawling around on the ground looking for her lost smartphone.

Dr. Etoi Davenport testified that Kim Pham’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and it’s estimated she was struck at least five times. Although she had no skull fractures, the brain was “markedly swollen” and was bleeding from multiple spots. Tests taken at the hospital indicate Pham was intoxicated at the time but formal toxicology reports haven’t been completed. The pathologist also can’t say which blow was the fatal one.

The hearing over Kim Pham’s death is scheduled to resume this week with the video evidence being the primary witness.

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