Jury Selection Begins for Tay Case Defendant

Jury selection began Monday for a Fullerton teen-ager accused of masterminding the New Year’s Eve, 1992, slaying of an honor roll student.

Robert Chan, 19, faces life in prison without parole if convicted of murdering Stuart A. Tay, 17, of Orange, a Foothill High School student who allegedly befriended Chan and several other youths who had planned to commit a computer heist.

Authorities said they believe Chan organized the fatal attack after learning that Tay had lied to the youths about his name and residence, raising fears that Tay might report them to police.

Tay was bludgeoned, had rubbing alcohol forced down his throat and had his mouth taped shut before he was buried in a Buena Park back yard, police said.

Also arrested and charged in the case were Abraham Acosta, 17, of Buena Park, and Mun Bong Kang, Kirn Young Kim, and Charles Bae Choe, all 18 and of Fullerton. The defendants all attended Sunny Hills High School.

Choe pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to the California Youth Authority. He is expected to be the key witness against Chan and the remaining defendants, who will go on trial after Chan’s case is completed later this month.

Defense attorney Marshall Schulman declined to discuss his strategy in the case, although court records indicate he may focus on Chan’s mental state at the time of the slaying. Schulman has been critical of attempts by prosecutors and other defense attorneys to portray his client as the alleged ringleader.

A judge agreed last week that a separate trial would ensure a fair hearing for Chan.

The jury selection process continued through Monday with Judge Kathleen E. O’Leary trying to weed out jurors whose opinions on the case may have been formed by pretrial media coverage.

Schulman said he was considering asking that the trial be held in another area because of the extensive news coverage, but said Monday he is hopeful the court can find an impartial jury to hear the case.

Testimony is expected to begin Wednesday, court officials said.