2 Youths to Be Tried as Adults for Murder
Two 17-year-old boys will be tried as adults in the murder of an Altadena woman in her home on May 1.
The ruling against Leonard Hampton and Michael Williams, both of Altadena, was issued by Pasadena Superior Court Commissioner Karen Nudell. The defendants pleaded not guilty Thursday in Pasadena Municipal Court to one count each of murder, attempted robbery and commercial burglary.
The victim, Lucie Maronian, 52, was stabbed to death on the second day of the Los Angeles riots.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants were trying to steal a beeper device belonging to a friend of Maronian’s 14-year-old son, Rafi. The two young boys fled into the Maronian family’s back yard but were followed by assailants. While the younger boys were hiding, authorities say, Hampton, Williams and a third defendant, O’Dell Whitley, 18, entered Maronian’s home and killed her.
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