Videotape Shows 1 in a Series of Killings

A suspected Los Angeles serial killer appears to match the physical characteristics of the attacker caught on camera raping and strangling one of 10 victims, a police officer testified Monday.

During a preliminary hearing for Chester D. Turner, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mark Pompano testified about videotape footage recorded by a surveillance camera that showed the 1998 slaying of 31-year-old Paula Vance.

He said the tape shows a “husky, muscular man” gripping Vance by the neck before forcing her to the ground and raping her. At one point, Turner was asked by the prosecutor to stand so the officer could gauge whether the physical appearance of the assailant -- who appears as little more than a silhouette in the grainy videotape -- was similar to that of Turner, sitting nearby at the defense table.

“It’s consistent with the build of Mr. Turner,” Pompano answered.

In all, 10 police officers testified during Monday’s hearing, with each providing brief descriptions of the slayings linked to the suspect by DNA evidence.

Although the bulk of the case against Turner is expected to focus on scientific evidence, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Jackson called officers who responded to each of the 10 homicides, which occurred between 1987 and 1998. All of the victims were raped and strangled.

In addition to Vance, Turner is accused of killing Annette Ernest, 26; Anita Fishman, 31; Regina Washington, 27; Mildred Beasley, 45; Andrea Tripplett, 29; Desarae Jones, 29; Natalie Price, 31; Brenda Bries, 31; and one unidentified woman who appeared to be in her 20s.

The onetime pizza-delivery man and cook was serving time in state prison for a rape conviction when he pleaded not guilty to charges in the strangulation killings. Prosecutors said they have not decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Defense attorney John Tyre, who is expected to attack the LAPD’s handling and storage of DNA evidence, pointed out that Pompano gave a different description -- of a suspect with medium to large build -- in initial crime reports.

Tyre, who asked the officers about prevailing weather and whether the crime scenes were properly secured, also suggested that the murders could have been the work of others.

The crimes of which Turner is accused took place mostly in a 30-block stretch of motels and apartments along the Figueroa Street corridor next to the Harbor Freeway, an area notorious for prostitution, drug crime and violence.

Testimony before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William R. Pounders could conclude as early as today. Witnesses are expected to include the detective who obtained the DNA swab from Turner, two criminalists and a medical examiner.