Teen suspect in deadly Visalia hit-and-run faces judge for preliminary hearing

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A preliminary hearing for a South Valley woman started today and will continue tomorrow. The judge only allowed still photographs for Chaylin Funez's hearing Tuesday.

The 18-year-old is in custody and represented by a public defender. She's charged with murder and the special allegation of using a deadly weapon--in this case, a car.

On a Saturday evening in late May, Funez allegedly ran over 35-year-old Eric Fisher, backed up over him again, and then dragged him down Prospect Avenue. Fisher, a father and husband, later died at the hospital.

With the help of tips from the community, police arrested Funez a couple of days later. Prior to being hit, police say Fisher was trying to break up an argument between Funez's boyfriend and another man who was walking his dog.

A witness testified Tuesday that Fisher said, "We don't want any problems in this neighborhood" before walking back to his house.

Fisher's family was in the courtroom.

Some of them also witnessed the crash and begged the driver of the car to stop. Tuesday afternoon, Visalia Police Detective Jacob Sorensen took the stand-he's the investigating officer in the case.

If convicted, Funez faces 25 years to life in prison.