Man Facing Trial In 1988 SoCal Torture-Killing

SANTA ANA (AP) — Trial is set to begin Wednesday for a Long Beach man accused of torturing and killing a friend in 1988.

Paul Gentile Smith, 50, could face life in prison if convicted of murder with special circumstances.

Orange County prosecutors contend that Smith stabbed Robert Haugen 18 times, then set the body on fire at Haugen's Sunset Beach apartment. Haugen was nearly decapitated in the attack.

Smith was charged this year after investigators say they matched DNA from the scene to Smith's DNA, which was placed in a national database after his 2007 domestic violence arrest in Nevada.

Smith's also accused of unsuccessfully trying to hire someone last year to beat up the lead investigator in the murder case. His girlfriend pleaded guilty to conspiracy and got 240 days in jail.

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