Jury Convicts Bouncer of First-Degree Murder

After two days of deliberation, a Van Nuys jury Thursday found Charles Biddle guilty of first-degree murder in the 1984 stabbing of a Los Angeles firefighter.

Biddle, 33, who will be sentenced Nov. 30 by Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber, faces a prison term of 26 years to life. He will be eligible for parole in about 17 years.

The former peep-show bouncer was accused of killing Jeffrey Collins, 38, outside the Van Nuys print shop Collins owned and operated off duty. The slaying occurred Nov. 9, 1984.

Biddle did not testify during the weeklong trial.

His lawyer, William Thornbury, told the jurors in closing arguments that they should find his client guilty of second-degree murder, not first-degree murder. He contended that the slaying was “a rash act,” not premeditated.

Thornbury did not specify a motive for the killing, but raised the possibility that Biddle and Collins may have gotten into a dispute behind the print shop.

About two weeks after Biddle’s arrest on the day of the killing, police arrested Robert Herbst, owner of a Van Nuys bookbinding business. Police alleged that Herbst, who later was charged with Collins’ murder, had hired Biddle to carry out the slaying because of a quarrel with Collins over a business deal. However, the charge against Herbst was later dropped because prosecutors said they lacked sufficient evidence.

During the trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said little about the motive, contending that there was sufficient evidence to show Biddle planned the murder. According to testimony by Collins’ employees, Biddle had stalked Collins for weeks before the killing, and immediately after the stabbing Biddle changed into spare clothing he had brought with him.

The jury foreman, David Rittenhouse, said two jurors held out for a second-degree murder verdict because they were not convinced Biddle had intended to kill Collins when he went to the print shop.