Convicted Killer To Plead Not Guilty To 4 Murder Charges

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A man who was sentenced to death in 2007 for murdering 10 women in Los Angeles County over a ten-year period is expected to plead not guilty to four additional murders that were committed in the 1980s and 90s.

KNX 1070's John Brooks said death row inmate Chester Turner was brought to a criminal courts building Wednesday to face arraignment on the four new murder charges.

The 44-year-old former South Los Angeles pizza deliveryman has been charged with the June 5, 1987, slaying of Elandra Bunn; the Nov. 16, 1992, murder of Debra Williams; the Dec. 16, 1992, killing of Mary Edwards; and the Feb. 22, 1997, slaying of Cynthia Annette Johnson.

The criminal complaint includes the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a rape or attempted rape involving all four victims.

Turner's defense lawyer, Kieran Brown, says this is a waste of money because you can't execute a man more than once.

"The answer I think you're getting that you'll get from the people is that the families deserve the justice," Brown said, adding that, "It doesn't make sense. He has ten death verdicts now."

The Arkansas native was sentenced to death in July 2007 for murdering 10 women between 1987 and 1998, and was described at the time by prosecutors as the city of Los Angeles' most prolific serial killer.

The arraignment was continued until June when Turner's lawyer says he will plead not guilty.

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