Girlfriend Says Slaying Followed Threat to Boy

The 14-year-old girlfriend of a youth who was shot to death in August outside a teen club in Van Nuys testified Friday that the accused assailant threatened her and her boyfriend two nights before the shooting.

Christopher Comete, then 15, challenged Mark Miller, 15, to a fight at the Hot Trax club and vowed to kill him, according to Miller’s girlfriend, Natalie M., 14, whose complete identity was withheld because of her age.

The girl testified in Van Nuys Municipal Court at a preliminary hearing for a man accused of assisting in the killing.

Natalie testified that Comete told Miller: “Meet me after Hot Trax closes Friday night and you’re going to get your head shot off.” She said Comete also threatened to “get” her.

Challenge Issued

The challenge was issued Aug. 14 after a scuffle between Miller and Comete at the club after Comete complimented Natalie’s purple-tinted punk haircut, she testified.

Miller, who lived in Hollywood, was killed shortly before 2 a.m. Aug. 17 by a single gunshot to the back of the head, police said.

Comete, now 16, of Canoga Park has been charged with murder and is awaiting trial in Sylmar Juvenile Court.

Police said Phuong (Tony) Nguyen, 21, of Canoga Park drove Comete to the club and helped him flee the scene. He is charged with acting as an accessory to an assault with a deadly weapon. Nguyen, who was on parole at the time of the shooting, also is charged with being an ex-convict in possession of a firearm.

If convicted, Nguyen could be sentenced to three years, eight months in prison, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Cesar C. Sarmiento.

Friday’s testimony came at a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to hold Nguyen for trial in Superior Court. The hearing continues Monday.

Many of the witnesses at the hearing are expected to testify also at Comete’s trial, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 18.

Los Angeles Police Detective Daniel J. Riehl testified that Nguyen told investigators after his arrest that he and Comete had placed the handgun in a compartment of Nguyen’s motor scooter before riding to the club Aug. 16.

Several teen-agers testified Friday that they saw Comete fire two shots in the air and a third at Miller before Comete and Nguyen fled on the scooter.

As the suspects were riding away, Natalie testified, they passed behind her and one shouted, “You’re next.”

Defense attorney Herbert Weiss said he plans to call several witnesses who will testify that Miller and several of his friends were about to attack Comete and Nguyen with sticks and clubs and that Comete and Nguyen acted in self-defense.