Murder case on hold to hear another murder case

An ongoing preliminary hearing in Sonoma County court for six Santa Rosa men accused of murdering a witness near Jenner to prevent his testimony in another case is taking a break until next month.

Quentin Russell, 25, Preston Khaoone, 23, Tyrone Tay, 27, Boonlack Chanpheng, 27, and brothers David, 20, and Sarith Prak, 22, are charged with murder in the shooting of Vutha Au, 24, in a Blind Beach parking lot near Jenner in March 2008.

Prosecutors allege Au was murdered so he couldn’t testify on behalf of his brother, 22-year-old Terry Au, who was allegedly kidnapped and beaten by a group of drug-dealing gangsters that included two of Khaoone’s brothers. That case is pending.

Testimony in the preliminary hearing, to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, began on May 18 and was expected to last about six weeks.

But another case, a murder trial for a young man accused of killing his grandfather, is ready to start in Judge Ken Gnoss’ courtroom this week, prompting a break in the beach case.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled resume on July 21.

The defendants, who face charges that could trigger a death sentence or life-without-parole if convicted, are being held without bail in Sonoma County Jail.