The People v. Nguyen CA1/5

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Prosecution Case Ngoc Banh’s Testimony Ngoc2 testified that her sister, Mai, and Nguyen had two sons. Ngoc knew that Nguyen and Mai had discussed divorce, but were trying to work things out. Mai told Ngoc that Nguyen wanted to stay married but Mai did not. Mai worked seven days a week at her hair salon. In April 2007, Mai and her children were staying with Ngoc during spring break. On Saturday, April 14, 2007, Mai left for work, taking her white purse, and leaving her sons in Ngoc‘s care. At 8:00 p.m., Nguyen came by to pick up the two boys. The next day, around 6:00 p.m., Nguyen called Ngoc and asked if Mai was there. Duc Truong’s Testimony Duc Truong is married to Ngoc Banh. On the evening of Sunday, April 15, 2007, Truong spoke to Nguyen, who said that Mai was missing. Truong called the San Leandro police. Truong and Ngoc traveled to Mai‘s hair salon and found it locked and the lights off. They also found Mai‘s car parked outside. Truong called Nguyen. When Truong said he was at Mai‘s salon, Nguyen said he was on his way. When Nguyen arrived at the salon, he asked Truong who had accompanied him. Nguyen then opened the salon with a key.…