Jury Urges Death for Killer of Manhattan Beach Officer

Jurors recommended the death penalty Wednesday for a 33-year-old man who murdered a Manhattan Beach police officer in front of his teenage nephew during a routine traffic stop.

Roger Hoan Brady is already serving a life sentence for the murder of an Oregon nurse.

A judge will decide whether to follow the Torrance Superior Court jury’s recommendation, and a sentencing date will be set in January.

Numerous family members and fellow officers of patrolman Martin Ganz, who was slain five years ago, were in the courtroom to hear the jury’s announcement.

Brady grew up in Topanga Canyon and attended Loyola Marymount University for a few years before dropping out. He eventually developed an addiction to crack cocaine, family friends said.

On Dec. 27, 1993, Ganz pulled over Brady near the Manhattan Village shopping mall. As Ganz approached the car, Brady started shooting. Ganz retreated behind his patrol car and Brady continued to chase him, still firing.

Ganz was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Brady then pointed the gun at Ganz’s young nephew, who was on a ride-along with his uncle, before driving away.

The next year, Brady held up a supermarket in suburban Portland, Ore., and shot and killed a nurse who had spotted his car.

After Oregon authorities circulated a description of the suspect, Southern California police officials connected the suspect to the Ganz killing.

When Brady was arrested in Oregon, police found a .380-caliber handgun at his apartment. Ballistics tests showed the .380 pistol was the gun that killed Ganz.

A Manhattan Beach community group raised funds for a memorial to Ganz, which was dedicated in 1994 at Live Oak Park.