Ip Now Facing Civil Suit in Slaying Death of Teen

A Spring Valley man convicted of manslaughter in his second trial in the 1989 shooting death of a teen-ager has returned to San Diego to face a third trial today.

This time, however, Roger Sing Ip, 35, is a civil defendant in a wrongful-death suit filed by the boy’s parents in San Diego Superior Court.

Jurors will hear attorneys’ opening statements today concerning the July 10, 1989, shooting death of Kurt Von Yokes, 15, slain after a near-collision in Pacific Beach.

Ip was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Feb. 20 after jurors in his first and second trial acquitted him of first- and second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Ip, who is serving a five-year term at Avenal state prison, was returned to San Diego County Jail about a week ago, a jail clerk said Saturday.

Attorneys and Judge J. Richard Haden chose the jury last week.

Yokes’ parents, Robert and Joan Yokes of La Jolla, filed the suit against Ip in June, 1990. Their attorney, John Moot, said he would probably seek $7.5 million, citing the amount assessed against former CHP Officer Craig Peyer in the 1986 slaying of Cara Knott, 20, of El Cajon, in her parents’ wrongful-death suit.

The China Inn, the former Pacific Beach restaurant Ip once owned, is a co-defendant in the suit. Ip testified at his two trials that he carried the restaurant’s receipts with him when he got off work and was armed to guard against robbery.

After nearly colliding with a pickup truck carrying teen-agers who made an obscene gesture and yelled insults, Ip followed the car. He accidentally shot the 15-year-old boy, he said, when his vehicle lurched forward.

Ip and the surviving teen-agers will be called to testify.