Jury Told Defendant ‘Executed’ 2 in Northridge Sandwich Shop

A former employee robbed a Northridge sandwich shop then “executed” two men because “dead men tell no tales,” a prosecutor told a jury Monday.

The state opened its case against James Robinson Jr., 24, of Northridge in the June 30, 1991, slaying of shop clerk James White, 19, and his longtime friend, Brian Berry, 18, who was visiting White when the holdup occurred.

Robinson is on trial for both slayings with the special allegation that the killings took place during a robbery, making Robinson eligible for the death penalty.

In his opening statement, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ken Barshop said witnesses will testify that Robinson bragged about committing the robbery and murders. Police found what they believe to be the murder weapon in Robinson’s home, Barshop said.

Robinson, who had worked at the shop from August to October of 1990 before being fired for suspicion of theft, committed the robbery because he was having financial problems, Barshop said. Robinson believed that he could pull it off, Barshop said, because he knew there was no security camera and he was familiar with the safe.

Barshop said that Robinson, who was a part-time student at Cal State Northridge, robbed the shop of nearly $600 and then shot the two men in the head “execution-style.”

In San Fernando Superior Court, the prosecution’s first witness, Rebecca James, identified Robinson as one of three men she saw in the shop about 1:30 a.m. on June 30. James was walking to her apartment, which is near the Subway sandwich shop in the 10300 block of Zelzah Avenue.

James testified that it was unusual for the shop to be open so late, and that when she looked over in the direction of the shop she saw Robinson holding something in his hand that she thought was a bread pan. A few moments later, she heard a noise that she said sounded like a pan dropping on the floor.

When she turned to look in the direction of the shop again she saw only Robinson, who then jumped over or ran around the counter before fleeing, James said. She said she thought the three men were only roughhousing.

“I didn’t think anything horrible was happening,” James said.

A second witness, David Kallnan testified that he had stopped by the sandwich shop about 1:45 that morning and as he approached the shop, he saw a body in a pool of blood on the floor. He then called police from his car phone.

Robinson’s attorney, Bruce Hill, did not make an opening statement.