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.