https://www.sacda.org/media/latest-news/62619-defendant-convicted-murder-3-year-old-daughter/
Defendant Convicted for Murder of
3-Year-Old DaughterDATE: 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.