Defendant Linked to Near-Crash Before Teen’s Slaying

A Pacific Beach man testified Wednesday that Robert Sing Ip was the driver of a red Isuzu Trooper that nearly collided with the car carrying a La Jolla teen-ager, who was shot and killed shortly after the incident.

The identification of Ip, 33, by Michael Endsley, who was also a passenger in the car, came during the first day of Ip’s preliminary hearing on charges that he killed Kurt von Yokes, a 15-year-old Mission Bay High School student, on July 10.

Taking the 2 Home

Endsley, 19, testified that Debbie Lichty, a mutual friend of his and Yokes’, was taking the two home after a night of “ice sliding” (on cardboard over ice plant) at Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach, when an Isuzu Trooper nearly collided with her Volkswagen Sirocco at a Pacific Beach intersection.

According to Endsley’s and Lichty’s testimony, both vehicles were side by side several blocks later when they stopped at a traffic light at Grand Avenue and Ingraham Street.

While stopped, Endsley said, he looked over at the car’s driver, opened his door and yelled, “I’ve seen better driving on a golf course.”

Endsley testified that they were parked in front of his parents’ home in Pacific Beach when Lichty noticed a car resembling Ip’s pull up behind with its headlights on.

Endsley said he and Yokes got out, looking back at the car.

Lichty and Endsley said they could not see the driver because they were blinded by the lights.

When asked by defense attorney Elisabeth Semel if he felt angry or mad when he got out of the car, Endsley said, “I felt scared.”

Lichty testified that she saw a flash and a noise similar to a cherry bomb coming from the other car.

Endsley said Yokes told him, “I’ve been hit.” Yokes died at the scene.

Holding back tears, Lichty testified that the red Isuzu “just pulled away like nothing happened.”

When asked whether the driver of the Isuzu was in court, Lichty said that she was not certain but that the man resembled Ip.

When asked about Ip’s facial features by Semel, Lichty put on her glasses, prompting Semel to ask the court that the record show that Lichty was not wearing glasses when she testified that Ip looked like the Isuzu’s driver.

Extensive Questioning

Throughout the day’s hearing, Semel extensively questioned Lichty and Endsley, who had refused to talk to defense investigators before the hearing.

On numerous occasions, she asked Endsley whether he took anything out of the back of Lichty’s car before getting out. Endsley--who stands 6 feet, 4 inches tall--said all he was carrying were his wallet and keys.

Briefly taking the stand was the man who lives in the Alhambra home where Ip’s vehicle was recovered.

Dhuong Duong told Municipal Judge H. Ronald Domnitz, through an interpreter, that he would testify only if he were granted immunity. Prosecutor Greg McClain said he didn’t have the power to give immunity, and Duong refused to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to last through Friday.