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: