Times coverage: Santa Monica woman called police before she was strangled

On March 16, 2008, Santa Monica police went to the condo of Juliana Redding, a 21-year-old white woman, to conduct a welfare check. Her parents, who lived out of state, were worried because they hadn't heard from their daughter.

When police arrived at Redding's condo, they found her strangled.

Investigators did not make an arrest in connection with the case until two years later, when they apprehended Kelly Soo Park, a 45-year-old Asian American woman.

Prosecutors have pointed to Park's employer, a Marina del Rey physician, as the link between the two women. Dr. Munir Uwaydah made six-figure payments to Park and her family before Redding's death and before Park's arrest, prosecutors said. Uwaydah has not been charged in the killing.

Redding's father, a pharmacist, and Uwaydah had planned to start a pharmaceutical business together, but the deal had broken down days before the killing, officials said. Police say Park was told to go to Redding's condo by Uwaydah to send a message.

During secret grand jury proceedings against Park, prosecutors disclosed that Redding had been calling police for help when her killer snatched the phone from her hands and hung up. The transcript of the proceeding was revealed to The Times last week.

Over three days in October the grand jury heard from police, forensic experts and coroner's officials, who told of how Redding died, the violent struggle that preceded the killing and, according to prosecutors, Park's sloppy effort to destroy evidence afterward.

The grand jury ordered Park, 45, to stand trial for the killing. She has pleaded not guilty. Uwaydah, through his attorneys, has denied any involvement in the case.

Reporters Robert Faturechi and Joel Rubin have more on the case: Detectives say Santa Monica actress dialed 911 moments before she was killed

Photo: (Left) Julianna Redding. Credit: DMV. (Right) Kelly Soo Park. Credit: Santa Monica Police Department.