Jurisdiction Question Delays Murder Case
The arraignment of three suspects in a murder-torture case was postponed Thursday to allow attorneys time to determine whether the killing actually occurred in Ventura County.
The badly burned body of a 20-year-old Redondo Beach man was found Sept. 13 in bushes near a campsite at Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area in the northeast edge of the county.
But defense attorneys say the rural area where Anthony Guest’s body was found may be in Los Angeles County. If so, they want the capital murder case sent to Los Angeles.
Ventura County Municipal Judge Steven Hintz agreed to delay the arraignment until March 17.
All three suspects are from Los Angeles County. Spencer Brasure, 27, of Hawthorne is facing the most serious charges of murder, torture, kidnapping, arson, grand theft and conspiracy. Billy Lyn Davis, 20, of Lawndale is charged with murder, kidnapping, theft and conspiracy. Sandra Johnson, 30, of Gardena is charged with two counts of conspiracy. She is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and the two men are being held without bail.
Davis and Brasure could face the death penalty if convicted.
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