Girl, 16, to Stand Trial in Elderly Woman’s Slaying
After listening to a videotaped confession and witnesses’ testimony, a judge ruled Thursday that a 16-year-old girl accused of the brutal murder of an elderly Rialto woman would stand trial.
In the confession, Christy Phillips, who was 15 at the time of the slaying, said she went to Manuela “Nellie” Fyock’s house to adopt a cat, but became angry when Fyock treated her as if she were a thief. Phillips described how she used a hatchet, tire iron, monkey wrench and metal wedge to kill the 72-year-old woman.
Judge Gus Skropos ruled that there was enough evidence to hold Phillips for trial. Her arraignment is scheduled for July 10 in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Fontana. If convicted, she could face 32 years to life in prison.
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