Man Convicted in Murder, Robbery of Car Salesman
A judge has convicted a man of murdering a car salesman during a test drive, then dumping the body in the desert.
Yale Booska, 23, was convicted this week of murder and robbery, but Superior Court Judge Lance Ito acquitted him of kidnaping in the non-jury trial.
Special circumstance allegations would make Booska eligible for the death penalty, the judge said. It was unclear whether Deputy Dist. Atty. George Knoke would seek the gas chamber or life in prison without possibility of parole. Sentencing was set for Aug. 24.
Booska was convicted Monday of the April 17, 1989, killing of Charles Washington, 61, of North Hollywood. Washington, a salesman at Barish Chrysler-Plymouth, disappeared after taking Booska on a demonstration drive.
Three days later, Booska was arrested in Seward, Neb., after running a red light and leading police on a 75-mile chase in the stolen Chrysler Conquest automobile.
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