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Serial killer trial gets underway

Accused serial killer Rodney Alcala is led into Orange County Superior Court. He is charged with the murders of four women in Los Angeles during the 1970's and the 1979 murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe of Huntington Beach. He was convicted twice of Samsoe's murder, but both convictions were reversed on appeal.

Accused serial killer Rodney Alcala is led into Orange County Superior Court. He is charged with the murders of four women in Los Angeles during the 1970’s and the 1979 murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe of Huntington Beach. He was convicted twice of Samsoe’s murder, but both convictions were reversed on appeal.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Rodney Alcala, who has been behind bars for three decades, is on trial a third time and has chosen to represent himself.

Opening statements

Attorney Gina Satriano makes the opening statements for the prosecution in the trial of accused serial killer Rodney Alcala, shown in an old photo on the big screen.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney Alcala

Alcala is acting as his own attorney in his trial on charges of killing four Los Angeles women in the 1970s and 12-year-old Robin Samsoe of Huntington Beach in 1979.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Listening

Starting in 2001, while Alcala’s second conviction in the murder of Robin Samsoe was going through the appeals process, Los Angeles County investigators discovered DNA evidence they say links him to the murders of four L.A. women who were sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled in the two years before the 12-year-old’s slaying.  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Demonstration

Prosecutor Gina Satriano puts her hand to her neck as she demonstrates to the jury how one of Rodney Alcala’s alleged victims was choked to death.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Court proceedings

Opening statements in the trial of accused serial killer Rodney Alcala, center, begin in Orange County Superior Court.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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