Sacto 9-1-1

By Andy Furillo
afurillo@sacbee.com

Chu Vue began testifying in his own defense this afternoon at his murder trial, giving a brief recitation of Hmong culture and beliefs before the trial wrapped up for the day.

The former Sacramento sheriff's deputy is scheduled to be back on the witness stand when the trial resumes Wednesday in front of Superior Court Judge Steve White.

Dressed in a blue suit and chained to his chair, Vue did not get into any of the key details of the case in his 20 minutes on the stand during which he was questioned by his attorney, Donald Masuda.

He testified about how he was born in Laos, moved to the United States at age 13, went to school in Sacramento, got his bachelor's degree from Sacramento State and worked for the Sheriff's Department for 13 years.

The 45-year-old defendant's employment with the agency came to an end following the Oct. 15, 2008, shooting death of California correctional officer Steve Lo in the garage of his Tambor Way home in south Sacramento.

Authorities charged Vue with setting up the killing because Lo was having an affair with the former deputy's wife, Chia Vue.

Also charged in the case is Vue's fellow Hmong clan member, Lang Vue, 27, who is accused of renting motel rooms and cars and buying a vehicle for the allgeded gunmen - Chu Vue's younger brothers, Gary Vue, 29, and Chong Vue, 31.

The two younger Vues were wanted for a murder in Minnesota at the time of Lo's death. They have since been convicted in that case.

They are waiting to stand trial on murder charges in the Lo killing.

Chu Vue described growing up in a small village of about 15 families in Laos, one where there was no running water or electricity. He described how the Hmong culture is rooted in the spiritual belief that their ancestors look over them after they die.

"That's what we believe and worship," he said.

The spiritual aspect of the culture figures to come into play later in his testimony when it comes time for Vue to explain his many phone calls to his younger brothers around the time that Lo was killed.

Previous witnesses have testified that the Vue clan had just experienced the deaths of two of its elders around the time of Lo's killing and that Chu Vue, as a respected leader in the group, had the responsibility to help direct the funeral arrangements.

Also today, Chu Vue's lawyer said he no longer intends to call the defendant's wife to testify about her extra-martial affairs. But Masuda still asked the judge to force her to appear in court to show the jury she's good looking.

The prosecutor objected to putting Chia Vue on exhibition in front of the jury as if she were "a Kewpie doll."

Superior Court Judge Steve White agreed and turned down Masuda's request.

In arguing to present Chia Vue to the jury, Masuda said the panel is "entitled to see what she looks like." Masuda has alleged that she had numerous affairs before and after Lo's death and that her husband's motive to kill could be lessened in the eyes of the jury if it knew the extent of her extramarital sexual activity.

Masuda added that "I want to show she's an attractive lady."

White said that Chia Vue "is not an exhibition or a prop."

"She's she's not going to be hauled in here every time a reference to her is made," White said.

The judge said a picture of Chia Vue has already been entered as an exhibit in the case, but Masuda said the Department of Motor Vehicles photo doesn't do justice to the woman's looks.

Deputy District Attorney Eric Kindall, meanwhile, said bringing Chia Vue into court to be seen only and not heard would be an abuse of the subpoena process.

"Subpoenas are supposed to be used to compel witnesses to testify in a court of law, not to be an exhibit in a case," Kindall said.

Kindall chided Masuda for criticizing the DMV photo of Chia Vue while in his opening statement showing a picture of her having sex with Steve Lo. The prosecutor characterized the photo taken on the victim's cell phone as "hideous."

He protested Masuda's effort "to bring her in like a Kewpie doll." Such a move is intended "to humiliate her," Kindall said.

Also at trial today, one correctional employee testified that he had an affair with Chia Vue that involved two sexual encounters in 2006 and 2007.

Call The Bee's Andy Furillo, (916) 321-1141.