Trial opens in killing of Calif couple, 6-year-old

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Houston man is on trial on charges he tortured and slaughtered a couple and a 6-year-old boy in their Southern California home.

Opening statements are scheduled Tuesday afternoon in Orange County for 39-year-old Quang Van Quan. He faces life in prison if convicted of murder for the 2006 stabbing deaths in Garden Grove.

Police believe a dispute over money led to the slayings of Phuong Le, his wife, Ngoc Lam, and her son, Tommy. The couple’s 11-month-old baby girl was discovered alive but dehydrated two days after the slayings.

Investigators say Le and Quan met in prison while both were serving time for robbery and after their release they tried to start a business. Authorities say they found an IOU from Le indicating he owed Quan $80,000.