VAN NUYS : Trial Begins for Man in Uncle’s Slaying

Spurred by bitter fights with the victim, a Pacoima man used a shotgun to kill his uncle at a family-owned metal works company in North Hollywood, prosecutors said Tuesday on the first day of the murder trial.

In opening statements to a jury in Van Nuys Superior Court, Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie Samuels said she will present largely circumstantial evidence that will indicate that Asa Washington, 22, had a “consciousness of guilt” after the slaying of his 57-year-old relative.

“We’re going to show that he acted guilty,” Samuels said.

Burnett Washington of Pacoima was killed inside Washington Metal Polishing at 5415 Cleon Ave. in North Hollywood on Sept. 4, 1992.

The victim had $70 in his pocket, and his wallet and car keys were found in his vehicle outside the business, leading police to rule out robbery as a motive in the killing.

Asa Washington was questioned by police the day after his uncle was killed, but he was not formally taken into custody until November, when police said they found a shotgun shell in Asa Washington’s bedroom that was similar to three recovered at the murder site.

During the investigation, Asa Washington refused to allow police to photograph his profile--something that had been requested by a key witness--and he fled his house when police came to arrest him, Samuels said.

The prosecutor also said that Asa Washington and the victim’s son, Randall Washington, threatened the victim’s life in a heated argument only six weeks before he was found dead.

In the weeks before he was killed, Burnett Washington had obtained a court order to have his son thrown out of his home. Randall Washington was also arrested in the case and was ordered to stand trial by a Municipal Court judge earlier this year. However, a Superior Court dismissed charges against him because of lack of evidence.

Defense attorney Charles Lloyd promised the jury that his client would testify and would deny having any role in his uncle’s death. Lloyd said a key prosecution witness, who will identify Asa Washington as the man driving a van seen speeding away from the murder scene, initially could only say Washington “possibly looks like” the driver he saw briefly.