Spring Break
UPD says murder investigation has stalled
Tony Burchyns, Daily Staff Writer
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"It's reached a standstill, and I'm not aware of new developments," said UPD Sgt. Robert Noriega Tuesday.
San Jose homicide detective Sgt. Ed Bettencourt and Santa Clara District Attorney Tom Farris disputed Noriega's characterization of the Kim case.
However, neither would comment on the likelihood of arrests or more warrants.
"It's an ongoing case, and anything I say could jeopardize the judicial process," Farris said.
Bettencourt said he could not comment on the specifics of the case and referred all questions to SJPD public information officer Sgt. Steve Dixon.
Dixon said last Wednesday the investigation appeared stagnant and referred further questions to Bettencourt and homicide unit commander Lt. Glen McCourty.
McCourty was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Kim was killed when his Asian American fraternity, Lambda Phi Epsilon, did battle with rival Asian American fraternity Pi Alpha Phi at Flickinger Park on Jan. 22.
Exactly why the two Asian American fraternities decided to fight is unclear, according to police.
Kim's assailant inflicted fatal knife wounds to Kim's chest, according to police reports.
So far, no arrests have been made, according to police.
Noriega said San Jose police are still looking for lone suspect Long Duy Tran, a 20-year-old former De Anza student missing since the night of the rumble.
Regarding the homicide detectives on the case, Noriega referred to Tran as "their man," and said city detectives are not likely to re-interview all of the people who were at Flickinger Park the night of the brawl.
Instead, Noriega said police are waiting for a break.
"Sometimes you have to get lucky and hope someone will come forward and want to help out," Noriega said.
If the police investigation closes inconclusively, individual sanctions against SJSU students would be impossible, said St. Saffold, vice president for student affairs.
When asked whether fraternity members who transfer before the police investigation concludes would face judicial hearings at their new schools, Saffold said he did not have a definitive answer.
"We may communicate (the situation) to other schools in the CSU system, as a courtesy," Saffold said. "Beyond that, there may not be much we can do if the students leave before the (SJPD) investigation is complete."
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