Trial Begins for 2 Men in Slaying During Burglary

A prosecutor identified two South-Central Los Angeles men Monday as the burglars who killed a 67-year-old Woodland Hills man in his home and held his wife at gunpoint last year.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Antoinette Brown said Devin Marcel Feagin shot Howard David King in the bedroom of his home in the 22900 block of Darien Street while co-defendant Terrill Ross held King’s wife, Faye, 68, at gunpoint on the kitchen floor.

Brown’s comments were made during opening statements in the April, 1988, case, which is being tried before Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz.

Feagin, 21, and Ross, 19, are charged with first-degree murder, residential burglary and robbery. Because the murder occurred during the commission of another crime, the charges against Feagin carry a special circumstance allegation that could result in the death penalty if he is convicted, Brown said.

Prosecutors cannot seek the death sentence for Ross because he was 17 at the time. Although he has been certified for trial as an adult, his juvenile status during the crime limits his maximum sentence to 27 years to life. Both men have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail in the County Jail.

Feagin’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender William Thornbury, declined to make an opening statement. Ross’ attorney, Alternate Defense Counsel Patrick Atkinson, said his client was not with Feagin and had nothing to do with King’s murder. He added that Ross did not have a gun, contraband or money with him when arrested.

King’s wife sustained no physical injuries in the shooting.

Feagin and Ross were linked to the killing by Kings’ neighbors, who became suspicious when they saw two young black men in a gold Cadillac drive up the street twice on the day before the killing, Brown told jurors.

Ross was arrested while driving the car, which was registered to Feagin’s aunt. Feagin turned himself in to police the next day, officials said.

Brown said fingerprints from both men were found at the King home.