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Trial Date Could Be Set For Duo In Rape, Robbery

POSTED: 6:56 am PDT May 26, 2009
UPDATED: 7:08 am PDT May 26, 2009

A trial date could be set Tuesday for a man and woman facing charges stemming from a home-invasion robbery in which a victim was raped, and, with four others, tied up and doused with lighter fluid.

Kevin Keith Sellers and Vanna Chheun, both 30, are accused of breaking into a home in Redwood Village about 8 p.m. last Oct. 17 and ordering three renters to the floor at gunpoint.

About two hours later, the husband and wife who owned the home on Hughes Street arrived at the residence and were tied up and the woman was raped, according to evidence presented during a two-day preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Sellers faces multiple charges of robbery, making criminal threats, assault with caustic chemicals, burglary, personal use of a firearm and 13 sex- related charges, including rape in concert and forcible rape.

Chheun is charged with robbery, criminal threats, burglary and assault with caustic chemicals.

Both defendants face life in prison if convicted.

A third person charged in the attack, Tommy Nguyen, remains at large, said Deputy District Attorney Rachel Cano.

One of the renters, Hung Tran, testified that at least two people came into the home and demanded money, then poured what he thought was gasoline on him and the other two renters.

"They said, if they cannot find any money, they would burn all of us,'' Tran testified.

When the intruders demanded $20,000, the male homeowner said, "I'm just a businessman. I don't have that kind of money,'' witness Tam Pham testified.

Another renter who was tied up testified that after the homeowners came home, he heard the wife say, "Don't hurt my husband.''

Yoshi Nguyen said he later heard the woman yelling and saying, "...you're hurting me. You're hurting me.''

The witness said one of the intruders also threatened to shoot the victims if they didn't come up with the money.
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