People v. Nguyen CA6

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On May 17, 2011, Nguyen was charged by information with one count of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187),1 murder with the use of a knife (§ 12022, subd. (b)). A. Prosecution evidence Amanda had two children2 with Nguyen. Amanda and the children lived with Salazar in Pacific Grove. Amanda worked at night and was home with the children during the day. Salazar, who worked during the day, watched the children at night. Nguyen went to Connecticut to work in a family business and live with some of his relatives. While he was there, Amanda told him she had decided to end their relationship. Although Nguyen was a good father when he was at home with the children, Amanda complained he often went out and left to care for them. Approximately a week before the murder, Nguyen returned to Monterey County, and went to see Amanda at Blue Fin, a bar and restaurant where she worked. He said he wanted to get back together, but Amanda said it would not work. She told him he could not live in her mother’s house with her and the children. She had explained this to him on the phone before he returned from Connecticut. Salazar told her Nguyen did not…