It’s been a while since we last wrote about Kumari Fulbright, the University of Arizona law student accused of kidnapping and torturing her ex-boyfriend. What’s up with her? Is she summering at a large law firm?

(Not as far as we know. One recent news report mentions that, after being suspended from UA law school, she moved to Texas.)

Although things have been quiet on the Fulbright front, it appears that negotiations have been taking place behind the scenes. From KTAR.com:

After striking a plea agreement, state prosecutors said they hope a Tucson man will help them convict a former Tucson beauty queen and suspended University of Arizona law student accused of kidnapping, robbery and assault….

[Larry Bruce] Hammond, 40, pleaded guilty Monday in Pima County Superior Court to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony that carries a prison sentence of two to 8.75 years.

In agreeing to testify, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is dropping charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, armed robbery and another aggravated assault charge against Hammond.

A generous deal, it seems — and therefore not good news for Kumari. To quote our tipster, “things are looking almost as bad as her mugshot.”

Read more, below the fold.

Fulbright claims that Hammond’s testimony will actually exonerate her:

According to documents filed by Fulbright’s attorney, Stephen M. Weiss, Hammond’s statements can clear Fulbright.

The victim, when left alone with Fulbright, managed to wrestle a gun away from her and escape, police said in December. But Hammond told police Dec. 9 that he didn’t see Fulbright harm the victim, the records state. “If somebody said you were there when she put a knife to his head or to his ear, you didn’t see that happen?” a detective asked Hammond, according to a transcript included in the records obtained by the Tucson Citizen. “No, sir,” Hammond said. He also denied seeing Fulbright bite the victim, as alleged.

We’re going to go out on a limb here and predict that Hammond will recant. Defendants have a habit of doing that when they cooperate.

In any event, regardless of her guilt or innocence, her status as a law student at a good school places Kumari Fulbright in the 99th percentile of beauty pageant winners academically. Although several beauty queens have gone into the law, the number is not overwhelming.

And for every beauty-queen-turned-lawyer, there are many more who can’t spell “LSAT.” YouTube hosts a large and growing collection of videos in which beauty queens sound moronic. This clip, featuring Janina San Miguel of the Philippines (our ancestral homeland), is a classic. Enjoy.

Ex-co-defendant could testify in Tucson beauty queen case [KTAR.com]
Suspect OKs deal in case involving beauty queen [Arizona Daily Star]