Two women sentenced to six years for fatal nightclub beating

Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala were convicted of manslaughter in the brawl that killed Kim Pham.


News out of Southern California... On Friday in Orange County, the two women convicted of manslaughter in the fatal beating of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham were each sentenced to six years in state prison.

Kim Pham beating death: 2 women sentenced to 6 years each in prison

27-year-old Candace Brito and 26-year-old Vanesa Zavala were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault, but were acquitted of a second-degree murder charge, in the brutal fight that killed Pham outside a Santa Ana nightclub last January. The defendants claimed they were acting in self-defense.

The fight apparently started as a verbal argument between two groups of friends, but escalated when Pham threw the first punch. She fell to the ground and was kicked in the head during the brawl, sustaining brain damage. She died two days later when she was taken off life support.

Two women to stand trial for murder of Kim Pham

Undercover cop posed as inmate to get Vanesa Zavala to talk



Two women accused in the beating death of 23-year-old Kim Pham last month outside a Santa Ana nightclub have been ordered to stand trial on murder charges. During a preliminary hearing, police played cellphone videos that show Vanesa Zavala and Candace Brito punching and kicking Pham before she lost consciousness.

Vanesa Zavala, Candice Brito To Stand Trial For Death Of Annie Hung Kim Pham

Zavala, 25, and Brito, 27, have both pleaded not guilty in Pham's death, who was taken off life support after the altercation left her brain dead. According to prosecutors, Brito punched and kicked Pham multiple times in the head. After she was pulled away, Zavala punched Pham once more in the head with her booted foot.

Police detectives played cellphone video footage to identify those involved with the fight:

Kim Pham's organs donated to five transplant patients

Beating victim's heart, kidney, lungs, pancreas and liver transplanted



While the shocking death of Kim Pham, the 23-year-old woman who was brutally beaten outside a Santa Ana nightclub, continues to resonate, her tragic end will at least have a life-giving legacy. Her organs have already been donated and used to help sustain the lives of five patients waiting for transplants.

Nightclub victim's organs have 'saved five lives,' agency says

Pham's heart, kidney, lungs, pancreas and liver were donated to patients on the national organ transplant waiting list. She also donated tissues including "skin used for burn dressings, bone to repair fractures and prevent amputations, and bone marrow for orthopedic use."

Pham died of complications from blunt force trauma to the head after she was punched, kicked and knocked to the ground outside a nightclub on January 18. She was declared dead the next day, but remained connected to a ventilator for two more days to make sure her organs would be available for transplantation.

Here's the statement from Pham's family, issued through the non-profit organ recovery group One Legacy:

Two women arrested in deadly beating of Kim Pham

Police release photo of third "person of interest"

In Orange County, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal beating death of 23-year-old Kim Pham, who was hit and kicked by multiple assailants outside a Santa Ana nightclub last weekend. Police say a third woman is being sought in connection with the incident.

Second woman arrested in Santa Ana nightclub beating; third sought

Pham died Tuesday after being taken off life support. According to friends, the fight might have been set off when she accidentally walked in front of a camera as a another group posed for a photo.

25-year-old Vanesa Zavala, accused of taking part in the attack, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the case. She pleaded not guilty and is being held on $1 million bail. According to her attorney, Zavala apparently feels "devastated" by Pham's death.

A second suspect, identified by police as a 27-year-old woman from Santa Ana, has been taken into custody.

Police have released the photo of a third "person of interest." Authorities initially said that five people were being sought in the beating, but have since clarified that only three women were believed to be involved in the incident.

Nightclub beating victim taken off life support

Fight might have been set off when Kim Pham accidentally walked in front of a group photo



Kim Pham, the 23-year-old woman was severely beaten in a fight outside a Santa Ana nightclub, died Tuesday after being taken off life support. According to one friend, the fight might have been set off when Pham accidentally walked in front of a camera as a another group posed for a photo.

Woman who was badly beaten outside Santa Ana nightclub dies

I'm sorry, but that has to be the stupidest reason ever for getting into a fight.

There still aren't a lot of details about how the altercation unfolded, but police say the argument broke out between Pham's friends and another group in line outside the club, then escalated into a physical fight. Witnesses say Pham was hit, kicked and stomped on by several people even after she fell to the ground.

23-year-old woman brutally beaten outside nightclub

Several suspects sought in fatal assault that left Kim Pham brain dead



Shocking news out of Southern California, where friends and family are mourning the death of a woman who was brutally beaten and left brain dead outside a nightclub in downtown Santa Ana early Saturday morning. Authorities are asking for the public's help identifying suspects involved in the assault.

Arrest Made in Beating Death of Kim Pham, 23, Outside The Crosby in Downtown Santa Ana

23-year-old Kim Pham was brutally beaten by a group of five people outside The Crosby, a popular nightclub. The incident apparently started when Pham, who was waiting in line with friends, got into an argument with another group that escalated into a physical altercation. According to witnesses, the group -- three females and two males -- kicked and stomped on Pham even after she fell to the ground.

OC Weekly has posted a video of the assault, anonymously sent to a friend of the victim: