Posted on 03/08/2012 5:25:35 PM PST by dragnet2
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A jury found former LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus guilty of first-degree murder in the death of her ex-boyfriend's wife 26 years ago.
The trial lasted more than 3 weeks, but it took the jury less than eight hours to return with a guilty verdict on Thursday. The jury also found the allegation that she personally used the firearm to be true.
The 51-year-old showed no reaction when the verdict was read. Her husband left the courtroom immediately, and her mother left in tears about a minute later.
"I am very disappointed. I think the speed of the verdict showed that we never had a chance in this case," said defense attorney Mark Overland.
Sherri Rasmussen was found dead in her Van Nuys apartment in 1986. The prosecution contended Lazarus murdered her ex-boyfriend's wife in a jealous rage.
The key piece of evidence in this case was DNA from a bite mark on the victim's arm. Investigators say that DNA came from Lazarus, who was an LAPD officer at the time. Lazarus went on to become a detective.
The case had originally gone cold, and detectives had believed at the time that the murder was the result of a burglary that had been interrupted. In 2004, detectives reopened the case after discovering the DNA evidence, but it wasn't until 2009 that the evidence brought investigators to Lazarus.
The defense argued that the DNA was improperly stored and could have been contaminated or planted, but the jury didn't buy it.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
Someone was protecting one of their own, simple that is the cop world.
I wasn’t even aware that she had died.
It was a fascinating story-—as they say,”You couldn’t make this stuff up”.
I'd say Janine Garofolo is a LOCK!
Lazarus, Overland, Rasmussen? All in one case? Sounds suspiciously politically Biblical!
/Im hoping that Southland will use this case as a story on a future episode. I just want to see what wild-eyed actress they come up./
Maybe the Lifetime Channel could do a movie...I do like watching SOUTHLAND though.
Her pension will help in prison.
From another article: For years, police assumed Rasmussen died during a violent robbery at her home even though Rasmussen's parents repeatedly told police that Lazarus had threatened Rasmussen at her workplace, telling her, "If I can't have John, nobody can."
I understand that DNA technology wasn't mature at the time, but Rasmussen had a bit mark on the body. C'mon boys.
They blew it.
Yep. Weird story. But there are a ton of weird and stupid stories in Wisconsin.
That would be funny. She could probably write her own lines.
I love that something happens nearly every five minutes and it’s often unbelievable. Like when that lady got run over and all they found was her purse and forearm in the street. The reaction from her husband. LOL!
Loony Lazarus actually makes Charley look tame.
This is no act.
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