Elements of Sonny's Case
Habeas Corpus (See attachment below)
Habeas Corpus (See attachment below)
**NOTE: The information listed below is based on the habeas corpus, attached below, that was written by Mr. Conrad Petermann, one of Sonny's appellate attorneys. In addition to that, other information were obtained from police reports of the case. The information below is just a summary of the case to provide a general understanding of Sonny's case. To have a more accurate understanding on the facts of the case, please read the attachment below.
**NOTE: The information listed below is based on the habeas corpus, attached below, that was written by Mr. Conrad Petermann, one of Sonny's appellate attorneys. In addition to that, other information were obtained from police reports of the case. The information below is just a summary of the case to provide a general understanding of Sonny's case. To have a more accurate understanding on the facts of the case, please read the attachment below.
According to the facts that were presented during Sonny's trial (as indicated in the habeas corpus, written by appellate attorney, Conrad Petermann, p. 9-10), Yi Chen (Eric) Liu was a junior and a tutor at Rio Hondo College at the time (around 1999-2000). During the fall of 1999, Liu tutored Tien Hsiang (Helen) Mo in math. While attending college, Eric and his sister, Annie Liu, sold jeans at a flea market during the weekends. As indicated in the habeas corpus and police reports, Helen Mo had been convicted for two prior serious felonies, burglary, before 1999 (during 1998). After serving for 4 months in juvenile hall for her convictions in 1998, Helen was released on March 24th, 1999 and she acquainted herself with Eric Liu. Since then, she frequently visits Liu's residence almost on a daily basis from September to December 1999. Around the middle of November of 1999, Annie Liu noticed that $300 to $400 (U.S. Dollars) was missing, after selling some jeans at the flea market, including some of her jewelries and Taiwanese currency. On Nov. 9th, 1999, Helen Mo sold 2 necklaces, charms, and other jewelries to Pasadena Pawn Shop. When Eric Liu discovered about the missing jewelries and $900 worth of random credit card charges on his bank statement, he confided with his friend, Alan (Chiachen) Ou, about his concerns that Helen Mo had taken his sister's jewelries. Eric Liu later went to the mall with his female friend, Wei Wei, where the credit charges were made. Eric Liu showed a group picture with Helen Mo in it to the store clerk and the clerk identified Mo, in the picture, as the one who made the charges to Eric's credit card. According to Alan Ou's statement, Mo told Eric Liu that it was her "little brothers," who stole the missing jewelries. Ou cautioned Eric about Mo's gang affiliation, since "little brothers," meant young gang members. Eric warned Mo that he would report her to the police if she did not return the missing items. When Mo returned some of the missing jewelries, Annie Liu told Eric Liu that one of the necklaces was fake. Eric Liu warned Mo that he would report her to the police if she did not return the original stolen necklace. On Dec. 16th, 1999, Eric called El Monte Police Department to report Mo on using his credit card. He later told the PD that he would report Mo because he was waiting for his bank statement. Mo told Eric that she will return the original necklace, but she needed time. On Jan. 14th, 2000, Eric Liu gave Mo 10 more days and warned to report her to the police. On Jan. 22nd, Eric and Mo talked again, Eric gave Mo two more days. On Jan. 24th, 2000, Ou left a voicemail message for Liu to inquire about the missing jewelries, but Liu never returned his call.
According to the facts that were presented during Sonny's trial (as indicated in the habeas corpus, written by appellate attorney, Conrad Petermann, p. 9-10), Yi Chen (Eric) Liu was a junior and a tutor at Rio Hondo College at the time (around 1999-2000). During the fall of 1999, Liu tutored Tien Hsiang (Helen) Mo in math. While attending college, Eric and his sister, Annie Liu, sold jeans at a flea market during the weekends. As indicated in the habeas corpus and police reports, Helen Mo had been convicted for two prior serious felonies, burglary, before 1999 (during 1998). After serving for 4 months in juvenile hall for her convictions in 1998, Helen was released on March 24th, 1999 and she acquainted herself with Eric Liu. Since then, she frequently visits Liu's residence almost on a daily basis from September to December 1999. Around the middle of November of 1999, Annie Liu noticed that $300 to $400 (U.S. Dollars) was missing, after selling some jeans at the flea market, including some of her jewelries and Taiwanese currency. On Nov. 9th, 1999, Helen Mo sold 2 necklaces, charms, and other jewelries to Pasadena Pawn Shop. When Eric Liu discovered about the missing jewelries and $900 worth of random credit card charges on his bank statement, he confided with his friend, Alan (Chiachen) Ou, about his concerns that Helen Mo had taken his sister's jewelries. Eric Liu later went to the mall with his female friend, Wei Wei, where the credit charges were made. Eric Liu showed a group picture with Helen Mo in it to the store clerk and the clerk identified Mo, in the picture, as the one who made the charges to Eric's credit card. According to Alan Ou's statement, Mo told Eric Liu that it was her "little brothers," who stole the missing jewelries. Ou cautioned Eric about Mo's gang affiliation, since "little brothers," meant young gang members. Eric warned Mo that he would report her to the police if she did not return the missing items. When Mo returned some of the missing jewelries, Annie Liu told Eric Liu that one of the necklaces was fake. Eric Liu warned Mo that he would report her to the police if she did not return the original stolen necklace. On Dec. 16th, 1999, Eric called El Monte Police Department to report Mo on using his credit card. He later told the PD that he would report Mo because he was waiting for his bank statement. Mo told Eric that she will return the original necklace, but she needed time. On Jan. 14th, 2000, Eric Liu gave Mo 10 more days and warned to report her to the police. On Jan. 22nd, Eric and Mo talked again, Eric gave Mo two more days. On Jan. 24th, 2000, Ou left a voicemail message for Liu to inquire about the missing jewelries, but Liu never returned his call.
On that same day, Jan. 24th 2000, Sonny Joshua Wong was at the Gotama Temple in Long Beach as well as being out with his mother, Vicki Wong, and his baby sister, Vivian, the entire day. Sonny accompanied with his mother at the temple on that day to obtain a wedding date to marry his ex-fiancee, Judy Lien. At the temple, Nun Tri Can saw Vicki and Sonny on Jan. 24th, 2000; however, she was never subpoenaed or called to the stand to testify for Sonny's defense. It was alleged that Sonny was Helen Mo's boyfriend; however, Helen Mo's interview indicated that Helen and Sonny briefly knew each other for about less than 2 months, from November to December of 1999.
On that same day, Jan. 24th 2000, Sonny Joshua Wong was at the Gotama Temple in Long Beach as well as being out with his mother, Vicki Wong, and his baby sister, Vivian, the entire day. Sonny accompanied with his mother at the temple on that day to obtain a wedding date to marry his ex-fiancee, Judy Lien. At the temple, Nun Tri Can saw Vicki and Sonny on Jan. 24th, 2000; however, she was never subpoenaed or called to the stand to testify for Sonny's defense. It was alleged that Sonny was Helen Mo's boyfriend; however, Helen Mo's interview indicated that Helen and Sonny briefly knew each other for about less than 2 months, from November to December of 1999.
On August 12th, 2002, Sonny was sentenced to Life Without Parole in a jury trial.
On August 12th, 2002, Sonny was sentenced to Life Without Parole in a jury trial.
The following are the defendants of murder case of Yi Chen (Eric) Liu [NOTE: The case was severed, so all of the defendants had separate trials. However, Doug Lim, Souriyo Banthakounh, and Li Da Liang received plea bargains 1 year before Sonny's trial. Helen Mo's trial also occurred a year before Sonny's trial.] :
The following are the defendants of murder case of Yi Chen (Eric) Liu [NOTE: The case was severed, so all of the defendants had separate trials. However, Doug Lim, Souriyo Banthakounh, and Li Da Liang received plea bargains 1 year before Sonny's trial. Helen Mo's trial also occurred a year before Sonny's trial.] :
1. Sonny Joshua Wong: currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) and has been maintaining his innocence for 18 years. [NOTE: Most of the discrepancies and the injustices that occurred in Sonny's case are indicated in Sergio Robleto's declarations, there are 4 parts to it, as indicated in the menu. These information were discovered years after Sonny's trial. For more information about the injustices in Sonny's case, please refer to the menu above for "Injustices in Sonny's Case," where there are 4 parts.]
1. Sonny Joshua Wong: currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) and has been maintaining his innocence for 18 years. [NOTE: Most of the discrepancies and the injustices that occurred in Sonny's case are indicated in Sergio Robleto's declarations, there are 4 parts to it, as indicated in the menu. These information were discovered years after Sonny's trial. For more information about the injustices in Sonny's case, please refer to the menu above for "Injustices in Sonny's Case," where there are 4 parts.]
2. Tien Hsiang (Helen) Mo: currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) [NOTE: Helen Mo had 2 public defenders, Maria Hernandez and Lisa Kopelman, representing her at the time and she currently has a bail of $500,000. Before the murder of Eric Liu, Helen Mo was assigned to probation for 5 years with her probation officer, Terrence O'Hare, from her previous conviction in 1998, was accounted for $34,000 worth of restitution, and was instructed to do 1,000 hours of community service with her court teacher, Terry Wilson.]
2. Tien Hsiang (Helen) Mo: currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) [NOTE: Helen Mo had 2 public defenders, Maria Hernandez and Lisa Kopelman, representing her at the time and she currently has a bail of $500,000. Before the murder of Eric Liu, Helen Mo was assigned to probation for 5 years with her probation officer, Terrence O'Hare, from her previous conviction in 1998, was accounted for $34,000 worth of restitution, and was instructed to do 1,000 hours of community service with her court teacher, Terry Wilson.]
3. Doug Lim Cheng (Lim Cheng IV): currently serving 25 years to life [NOTE: Doug Lim was given a plea bargain. During the investigations of the murder of Eric Liu in 2000, Doug Lim was also under probation with his probation officer, Mr. Kuk. At that time he was already convicted in L.A. County Jail for a probation violation on Feb, 2nd, 2000.]
3. Doug Lim Cheng (Lim Cheng IV): currently serving 25 years to life [NOTE: Doug Lim was given a plea bargain. During the investigations of the murder of Eric Liu in 2000, Doug Lim was also under probation with his probation officer, Mr. Kuk. At that time he was already convicted in L.A. County Jail for a probation violation on Feb, 2nd, 2000.]
4. Li Da Liang (Adat): served in YA (Youth Authority) for 8 years and was guaranteed by the DA (District Attorney, Debra Lloyd) to have his record sealed [NOTE: Li Da Liang was given a plea bargain through an immunity agreement to testify as the prosecution's key witness in Sonny's trial. It was later discovered, after the trial, by a private investigator, Sergio Robleto, that Li Da Liang's father's statement contradicted Li Da Liang's statement at the time of the trial, hence a perjured testimony.]
4. Li Da Liang (Adat): served in YA (Youth Authority) for 8 years and was guaranteed by the DA (District Attorney, Debra Lloyd) to have his record sealed [NOTE: Li Da Liang was given a plea bargain through an immunity agreement to testify as the prosecution's key witness in Sonny's trial. It was later discovered, after the trial, by a private investigator, Sergio Robleto, that Li Da Liang's father's statement contradicted Li Da Liang's statement at the time of the trial, hence a perjured testimony.]
5. Souriyo Banthakounh (Yo): served for 15 years [NOTE: Souriyo also received a plea bargain]
5. Souriyo Banthakounh (Yo): served for 15 years [NOTE: Souriyo also received a plea bargain]
habeas corpus.pdf