Case Goes to Jury : Ex-Bouncer Didn’t Plan Murder, Attorney Claims

A former peep-show bouncer should be convicted of second-degree rather than first-degree murder in the 1984 stabbing death of a Los Angeles fireman, a defense attorney told a jury on Tuesday.

In closing arguments to the Van Nuys jury, William Thornbury contended that his client, Charles Biddle, killed Jeff Collins in an impulsive act outside the fireman’s Van Nuys print shop.

“The evidence shows it was a rash act,” Thornbury said. “They may have gotten into a dispute--we don’t know. No one heard what they said to each other.”

Did Not Testify

Although Biddle, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder, the jury could choose to consider a lesser charge.

Biddle did not testify during his weeklong trial. Thornbury, who called no defense witnesses, gave the jury no motive for the stabbing Nov. 9, 1984.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond contended that Biddle planned the murder, stalked Collins and was requested by someone else to kill him. Because he committed a premeditated murder, Biddle should be found guilty of first-degree murder, Diamond said in his closing arguments.

“Jeff Collins died because of a cold, calculated premeditated murder,” Diamond told the jurors, who began deliberations late Tuesday. They will resume those deliberations today.

16 Years to Life

If Biddle is convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, he faces a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of 16 years to life in prison.

After Biddle’s arrest on the day of Collins’ killing, police arrested a second suspect, Robert Herbst, owner of a Van Nuys bookbinding business. At that time, police alleged that Herbst had hired Biddle to kill Collins because of a soured business deal. The nature of that business deal did not come up during trial testimony.

Herbst also was charged with Collins’ murder, but the charge later was dropped because prosecutors said they lacked sufficient evidence.

Jail Admissions Reported

During the trial, one witness who shared a cell with Biddle testified that Biddle admitted he killed a fireman for someone else.

Testimony also revealed that Biddle’s brother told a homicide detective that Biddle had needed money, could not pay his rent and wanted to open a nightclub. He also said his brother told him a “hit” might be coming up. However, the brother denied those statements at the trial.

After the stabbing, Biddle fled on foot and was chased by one of Collins’ employees, who pointed him out to police a few blocks from the print shop.