LOS ANGELES : Trial Date Set for Rapper, 2 Others in Man’s Slaying

A judge on Tuesday set a trial date of Jan. 13 for rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and two other people accused of killing a Long Beach man last year.

The tall, thin singer, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, spoke only once during the 30-minute hearing before Superior Court Judge Paul Flynn. He and co-defendants McKinley Lee and Sean Abrams all answered “yes” when asked if they would waive their right for the trial to start at an earlier date.

A grand jury indicted the men on a murder charge for the Aug. 25, 1993, shooting death of Philip Woldemariam, 20, in Woodbine Park in Palms.

According to the indictment, Lee was the triggerman and Broadus was driving the Jeep from which the shots were fired. Abrams allegedly was in the back seat.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ed Nison said the victim and the suspects were gang members. The defense claims that Lee shot Woldemariam in self-defense after the victim pulled a gun.

Broadus and Lee are free on $1 million bail each, and Abrams posted a $200,000 bond. But in a separate ruling Tuesday, Flynn ordered Lee placed under house arrest, pending a hearing Nov. 4.