Double-Murder Case Witness Recalled to Stand

The prosecution’s star witness against a South-Central Los Angeles man accused in the 1985 kidnaping and murder of two college students was called back to the stand Monday as the defense tried to attack his credibility.

But DeAndre Brown, 24, stuck to his story that Damon L. Redmond, 22, was one of four men responsible for the killings of UCLA freshman Michelle Ann Boyd, 19, and her boyfriend, Cal State Northridge sophomore Brian Harris, 20.

The two were found shot to death in a vacant lot off Mulholland Drive, near the Sepulveda Pass, after they disappeared Oct. 1, 1985, while on a date near the UCLA campus.

Harris’ burned-out 1981 Honda was later found abandoned in South-Central Los Angeles.

Brown has admitted his guilt and agreed to cooperate with authorities in exchange for immunity from prosecution. He told of how Harris’ car was commandeered--with Harris locked in the trunk--and how the two victims were shot at close range in the back of the head. He led investigators to the bodies.

As the leadoff prosecution witness in Santa Monica Superior Court, Brown testified about a plan to steal a car in Westwood for a proposed liquor store robbery in Barstow in order to bail a friend out of jail. Although the robbery never took place, Brown said Redmond was instrumental in the alleged scheme. He also claimed that Redmond was with alleged triggerman Stanley Bernard Davis, 26, in the vacant lot when Boyd and Harris were shot to death.

Contending that Brown had “overexaggerated” Redmond’s supposed involvement, defense attorney William McKinney called him back to the witness stand in an attempt to knock holes in his story.

For example, wasn’t it true, McKinney asked Brown, that he paid Redmond $200 to burn the Honda to cover up the homicides?

“No, sir,” Brown said.

Hadn’t Brown tried to obtain bail money for the jailed Redmond, afraid that he might be implicated in the murders?

“No, sir,” Brown maintained.

Also, wasn’t Brown forced to concoct a story against Redmond, because Redmond was briefly jailed on an unrelated drug charge and had been talking with authorities?

“No, sir,” Brown answered.

Although Redmond, who is being held without bail, admits he touched the Honda, McKinney contended that Redmond was not with Brown, Davis, and Donald Bennett, 23, on the night the two college sweethearts were murdered. But the defense attorney acknowledged that there are no witnesses who can come forward to say where Redmond actually was on that night.

Brown was adamant that Redmond was with them on the night of the murders.

Redmond will not testify in his own defense, McKinney said.

The alleged triggerman, Davis, is scheduled for trial in February. Bennett pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Harvey Giss said Redmond faces a term of 50 years to life imprisonment if convicted of all eight counts alleging murder, kidnaping, arson and theft. The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty since Redmond is not suspected of actually killing the two students.

The case is expected to go to the jury by Monday.