Hearing Postponed for 3 People Accused in Torture-Slaying

A preliminary hearing was postponed Thursday for three Los Angeles County residents facing criminal charges in connection with the torture-slaying of a Redondo Beach man in the outskirts of northern Ventura County last year.

Spencer Rawlin Brasure, 27, and Billy Lyn Davis, 20, are charged with murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and related charges for allegedly killing 20-year-old Anthony Guest on Sept. 13.

Brasure, a Hawthorne resident, and Davis, who lives in Lawndale, could each face the death penalty if convicted.

In addition, Sandra Johnson, a 31-year-old Gardena resident, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime for her alleged role in the slaying.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty and have been waiting for their preliminary hearing.

The hearing was postponed Thursday to give attorneys more time to resolve questions about how Brasure got phone numbers and addresses of witnesses in his case.

Authorities found documents in his cell that prosecutors say show that he was writing threatening letters to friends asking them to kill witnesses before the preliminary hearing.

They have further alleged that the information was given to Brasure by his defense team in violation of state law.

A hearing to find out how Brasure got the information is set for this morning, and an order prohibiting him from writing letters or making phone calls from the Ventura County Jail remains in effect.