Local News in Brief : Trial in Southside Serial Killings Opens
A Watts man went on trial for a second time Monday in the murders of five women, including three counted among the 18 Southside Slayer serial killings.
A mistrial was declared in August at Louis Craine’s first trial after a clerk inadvertently gave deliberating jurors portions of a witness statement they were not supposed to see.
In an opening statement Monday in Compton Superior Court, Deputy Dist. Atty. John Watson told jurors that the evidence will prove that Craine, 33, is guilty of five murders from November, 1984, until May, 1987. Craine’s lawyer will give his opening statement after Watson rests his case.
The so-called Southside Slayer serial killings claimed the lives of 18 women, primarily prostitutes in predominantly black neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, from the fall of 1983 until May, 1987.
Police believe the 18 slayings were carried out by more than one person.
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