Gang Member Faces Trial in Fatal Beating

A North Hollywood gang member was ordered Thursday to stand trial on charges that he was part of a group that fatally beat a man who crashed his car into other cars while drunkenly leaving a Canoga Park party.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Leslie A. Dunn ordered the trial for Richard Hudson, 24, who is charged with murder in the Jan. 12 slaying of William Younger, 37, of North Hollywood. After a preliminary hearing, a murder charge against co-defendant Tyre Hall, 19, of North Hollywood was dropped because there was not enough evidence that he directly took part in beating Younger.

Younger attended a party at a house in the 8300 block of Variel Avenue, where he drank heavily and became upset with his girlfriend, according to witnesses who testified during the hearing.

When he left the party, he sped in his Cadillac up and down the street and struck two party-goers’ cars, knocking them into two other cars, witnesses said. One of the cars belonged to Hudson. Witnesses said he and as many as 15 other young men ran to Younger’s car, pulled him out and beat him for several minutes until he died.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie Samuels said as many as six men directly took part in the attack on Younger, and an investigation of the case is continuing by Los Angeles police.