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The man who left one dead and another injured in a deadly knife fight was sentenced to up to 25 years in jail.
Con Kim, 30, of the 500 block of Ritner Street, was arrested Aug. 31 2009 — about nine months after Van Tri Chi, 37, of Northeast Philly, was slain outside Vy Da Café and Sports, 612 Washington Ave.
Kim pled guilty to murder and possession of an instrument of crime Aug. 6, according to court records.
The altercation started inside the drinking establishment at about 1 a.m. Nov. 2, ’08, Assistant District Attorney Lorraine Donnelly said Tuesday. After both sides were kicked out, the fight continued outside. It is believed both sides had knives, however, the nature of the argument was not determined at trial.
“I don’t think they were friends, but they knew each other from local hang out places,” Donnelly said of Kim and the deceased.
A 31-year-old friend of Chi was stabbed in the left side of his back and transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in stable condition while Chi, who was pronounced dead at Jefferson 24 minutes after the incident, was pierced in the abdomen and sliced twice in the head, according to police.
It was the wound to the stomach that served as the fatal blow, Donnelly said. Kim left the scene prior to police officers’ arrival and was not identified as a suspect until his girlfriend turned him in.
“It was such a melee outside of the bar no one had said the defendant was there,” Donnelly said referring to Kim, who later admitted to the crime and told police he had disposed of the murder weapon.
See the rest of August’s court wrap-up, including the outcome of animal fighting charges from a 2011 Gray Ferry dog fight, in next week’s issue.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
Also in August’s Court Report:
Piling on the time
In the penalty box
In this week’s Police Report:
Fatal aim
Mail-slot break-ins
Wounded on the holiday
September police meetings
Web-exclusive Police Report:
Painful behavior
Eye on the crime
Skull scraper
Taking a piece of the pie
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