Motorist Beaten in Riots Cannot Identify Attackers : Trial: Prosecutors fail to link assault to men accused of trying to kill Reginald O. Denny.

A Chinese immigrant described through an interpreter Tuesday how he became one of the first victims of the 1992 riots when he was dragged from his car, beaten and robbed.

Choi Sai-Choi, who came to the United States four years ago, said he was beaten at Florence and Normandie avenues in South-Central Los Angeles, the same intersection where trucker Reginald O. Denny was later attacked.

The testimony came in the trial of Damian Monroe Williams, 20, and Henry Keith Watson, 28, who are both charged with the willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder of Denny and assault with a deadly weapon on others.

Choi said he slowed his car when he neared the intersection April 29, 1992, because he saw people waving their hands. “I was afraid I may bump into them.”

“People rushed toward my car and tried to open my door,” Choi said. “I took hold of the keys with my hand, then I was being pulled out by those people from my car,” he said.

Prosecutors tried to show that a man dressed like Watson participated in the attack on Choi.

But under defense cross-examination, Choi could not identify any of his attackers. “I didn’t pay attention,” he said when asked if he could identify the man who appeared to be dressed like Watson in videotape taken during the beating.

On Monday, Alicia Maldonado, who was beaten at the same intersection, also failed to identify either of the defendants in the case. Prosecutors said she was attacked by Williams.

Before Tuesday’s testimony, Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk reminded jurors that Williams and Watson were not charged with beating Choi, and they should use the testimony and footage shown only to establish intent or to identify Williams and Watson.

Prosecutors used Choi’s testimony to show footage from the ground and from helicopters of the scene at the intersection, one of the flash points of the 1992 riots.

The riots left 53 people dead and nearly $1 billion in damage. It erupted just hours after four white police officers were acquitted on all but one charge in the March 3, 1991, videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney G. King.

Officer Laurence M. Powell and Sgt. Stacey C. Koon were later convicted in a federal civil rights trial.