Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/22/04

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Diana Gomez

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

PAROLE DENIED FOR INMATE VINH PHANG

Parole was denied for convicted murderer Vinh Phang after a hearing before the Board of Prison Terms on April 19, 2004, at Corcoran State Prison.

A Sonoma County jury convicted Phang in 1988 of first degree murder in the premeditated, execution style slaying of his brother-in-law, Johnny Fong. On May 21, 1987, Mr. Fong was found lying face down next to his vehicle in Petaluma. Mr. Fong had traveled from Hillsborough to Petaluma to attend a pre-arranged meeting with a friend. He was shot twice to the head. His Rolex watch and wallet were missing. Mr. Phang was stopped one week later at the Canadian border with his brother and a friend and his vehicle was searched. The gun used in Mr. Fong’s murder was found in the car as well as Mr. Fong’s Rolex watch. The gun was stolen in March of 1987 in a burglary of Mr. Phang’s former employer in Missouri while Phang lived in Missouri. Two hours after the burglary Phang attempted to cash checks stolen in that burglary.

Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Diana Gomez appeared before the Board and opposed a parole date being set for Mr. Phang.

In denying parole to Phang, the Board found that he had committed the offense in a heinous, cruel and callous manner on a particularly vulnerable victim in order to rob the victim of his property. The Board found Phang had shown absolutely no remorse for this crime, had continually denied any participation in this crime and any other crimes he has been convicted of, has had a poor history of adjusting to confinement and had been involved in a number of violent incidents while incarcerated. It was also noted that he has not participated in necessary prison programs, lacked adequate insight into the reasons for committing his crimes, continually blamed his problems on others and was not candid. He was found to pose a high degree of risk to society if released from prison at this time. The next earliest parole hearing for Mr. Phang will be in April, 2008.