Defendant Convicted for Murder of 3-Year-Old Daughter

DATE:  June 26, 2019

CASE:  Angela Phakhin (Case #17FE012186)

PROSECUTOR:  Principal Criminal Attorney Nancy Cochrane, Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit

Angela Phakhin was convicted by a jury of the first-degree murder of her 3-year-old daughter Maiya.  The jury also unanimously found that Phakhin was guilty under a theory of premeditated and deliberate murder and felony murder torture.

Phakhin came to California with Maiya and her fiancé, Untwan Smith, in February 2016.  Over a two-week period, Phakhin and Smith exposed Maiya to extreme summer temperatures.  One day, they left Maiya in a car for 4 ½ hours.  On the second day, they left her in a car for 9 ½ hours, which led to her death.  Phakhin had been warned repeatedly to protect Maiya and was advised to take her to a cooling shelter, but she did not accept the offers. After Maiya’s death, Phakhin told law enforcement that she and Smith were trying to remove the lustful demons from Maiya.

Phakhin faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.  Sentencing is set for July 19, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 42 before the Honorable Allen Sumner.

Untwan Smith is pending trial on the same charges.

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