SOUTH BAY : Four to Be Tried in Slaying of Councilman’s Daughter

A judge on Friday ordered four people to stand trial on murder charges in the Feb. 9 slaying of an El Segundo city councilman’s daughter, and in an attack on her 12-year-old child.

After a two-day preliminary hearing, Judge Thomas Sokolov found sufficient evidence to hold Robert Brendon Foster and Linnette O’Neill Blocker, both 18, Marcus Terral Brewington, 19, and Erica Dawn Olson, 20, over for trial.

The four, who are being held without bail, will be arraigned in Torrance Superior Court on April 1 on murder and attempted murder charges. They could face the death penalty if convicted in the slashing and strangulation death of Tairree Lynne West, the 25-year-old daughter of Councilman Alan West. The murder charge carries a special circumstance allegation that the killing was done during a burglary.

The four also were “held to answer” on a charge of attempted premeditated murder stemming from the attack on the dead woman’s daughter, Ashley. The child was stabbed in the neck and left for dead. Despite a nine-inch gash from the top of her cheek to the middle of her throat, the youngster managed to dial 911.

Foster, Blocker, Brewington and Olson also are charged with residential burglary and child abuse for allegedly gagging West’s 4-month-old daughter and leaving her on a couch. The infant was not seriously hurt.

Police believe robbery was one of the motives for the crime, and that West and Foster had been involved in a dispute.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven Levine said the dispute may have stemmed from West’s disapproval of a romantic relationship between Foster and Olson. Olson was a baby-sitter for the infant, Levine said, and “had a key (to West’s apartment) and . . . was trusted.”