Murder Charge Filed in Strangulation

A 26-year-old Canoga Park man, who said he killed his girlfriend as “a favor” to free her from cocaine addiction, was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on a murder charge, authorities said.

San Fernando Municipal Court Commissioner Gerald T. Richardson ordered Richard Lallis to stand trial for the death of his live-in girlfriend, Andrea Young, 25, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Edwin F. Greene.

Young’s decomposed body was found May 6 in a closet in the couple’s home on Parthenia Street near De Soto Avenue, by police acting on an anonymous tip, investigators said.

The woman had been strangled, police said.

During a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Lallis testified that he “killed her because she was using cocaine,” Greene said.

The killing occurred May 4 as the two argued about Young’s alleged drug addiction.

“He was arguing with her about stopping her cocaine use,” Greene said. “He said he tried to stop her before and he felt there was no alternative but to end it.”

Lallis, an ironworker, also expressed concern for their 3-month-old baby, who he said was born with drugs in her system, police said.

“He was concerned that the child would grow up in an environment that was not good,” Greene said.

After his arrest, Lallis confessed to the killing, police said. “He said ‘I loved her,’ ” Sgt. Dan Carnahan said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong. I did her a favor.”

Lallis told police that he had been a drug addict and knew what Young was going through, police said.

Lallis is scheduled to be arraigned on June 11 in Superior Court.