Prostitutes

Mar 11 2013

No trial in sight

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—An alleged serial killer dubbed the “Grim Sleeper” and charged with murdering 10 women appeared in court today, but his trial could still be months away.

During today’s pretrial hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy voiced frustration with defense attorney Seymour Amster, who represents accused killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

Gregg Reese  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 15 2011

Maybe there was an unbroken span of killings

As the prosecution and defense teams maneuver over legal issues, investigators continue to shift through the 1,000-plus pieces of evidence, including hundreds of photos, primarily of African American females that were found on the 81st Street property of suspected “Grim Sleeper” mass murderer Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

Sep 14 2011

“King Snipe”

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A prosecutor told jurors that an accused Hawthorne pimp who calls himself “King Snipe” should be convicted of forcing two teenage runaways to walk the streets for him, but the defense countered that the alleged victims cannot be believed because they were prostitutes before they met the defendant.

Aug 1 2011

Lonnie Franklin Jr.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man suspected in the “Grim Sleeper” serial killings, a deputy district attorney announced today.

A jury will be asked to recommend a death sentence for 58-year-old Lonnie Franklin Jr. if he is convicted, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said. Franklin has been indicted on 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Franklin, a one-time city employee, has been locked up since his July 7, 2010, arrest.

Apr 5 2011

Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Eight more women may have been killed by the 'Grim Sleeper,' an alleged serial killer charged with killing 10 women in South Los Angeles as far back as the mid 1980s.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck plans to discuss the case and release images of possible victims at a 4 p.m. news conference.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”