Suspect Held in Slaying of Judge’s Aunt

Police arrested a Palmdale man Saturday on suspicion of murdering the 84-year-old aunt of a Los Angeles Municipal Court judge last week, authorities said.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division arrested Aramzi Badwi, 32, at a home in the 13900 block of 30th Street East in Palmdale, said Martha George, an LAPD spokeswoman.

Police did not disclose the evidence they believe links Badwi to the fatal beating Thursday of Grace Perrin, the aunt of Judge Jessica Perrin Silvers.

Perrin’s body was found Thursday afternoon outside the back door of her home in the 14400 block of Miranda Street in Van Nuys, authorities said.

Police said the woman was attacked after surprising a burglar who had broken into her house while she was away.

The thief made off with jewelry and other personal items, according to Stephen Fisk, a homicide detective with the LAPD’s Van Nuys Division.

Police said Friday that they had determined there was no connection between Perrin’s death and a gang sweep authorized by search warrants that her niece signed.

A man and a teenage boy were arrested and several firearms were confiscated in the sweep targeting the homes of alleged Asian gang members in the San Fernando Valley, police said.

Badwi, who was being held in Van Nuys jail, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday or Tuesday at Van Nuys Municipal Court on murder charges, George said.