Local News in Brief : Slaying Suspect in Court
A parolee accused of shooting to death restaurateur Alberto Sarno during an attempted holdup to support his heroin addiction pleaded innocent Tuesday to murder and attempted robbery charges.
Ralph Mora, 33, of Los Angeles also pleaded innocent at his Los Angeles Municipal Court arraignment to a special circumstance allegation that qualifies him for a possible death sentence if convicted. Mora was ordered held without bail by Judge Glenette Blackwell pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 4.
He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing Sarno Oct. 20 as the restaurateur was returning to his gated Los Feliz home after closing his restaurant, Sarno’s Caffe Dell’Opera on North Vermont Avenue.
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