Private Detective in ‘Cotton Club’ Case Is Held in Slaying of Prostitute

A Beverly Hills private investigator who testified two years ago against two of his former employees in the celebrated “Cotton Club” murder case was charged Wednesday with hiring the same employees to kill a West Hollywood prostitute.

A. Michael Pascal, 54, was arrested by Los Angeles police as he left his Van Nuys home Wednesday morning, police said. He was charged with the 1984 slaying of June Michner, 29, and the attempted murder of Christian Pierce, Michner’s companion, who was shot but not killed as they walked on a Van Nuys sidewalk.

Pascal was being held at Parker Center without bail and was scheduled to be arraigned today in downtown Los Angeles.

Authorities allege that Pascal hired the two “Cotton Club” killers, William Mentzer and Robert Lowe, to kill Michner because the 245-pound prostitute had been harassing one of Pascal’s clients.

Mentzer and Lowe were convicted in July of the 1983 murder of theatrical producer Roy Radin, whose death has been linked to Radin’s efforts to finance the movie “Cotton Club.” The two former bodyguards are also awaiting trial on murder charges in the Michner slaying.

Detective Rick Jackson said there is “no evidence at this point” linking the Michner slaying to Gregory A. Cavalli, whose prominent Beverly Hills family had hired Pascal to protect them from Michner. Cavalli was charged with the murder but acquitted in 1986.