Trial Gets Underway In 2008 Murder Of Aspiring Model/Actress

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Opening statements were underway in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday in the trial of a woman accused of killing an aspiring model and actress more than five years ago.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Kelly Soo Park is accused of beating and strangling 21-year-old Juliana Redding in her Santa Monica apartment in March 2008.

Prosecutors allege Park, 47, killed Redding over a business deal gone bad that involved the victim's father.

Deputy District Attorney Stacy Okun-Wiese told the jury in her opening statement that DNA recovered from Redding's apartment pointed to "one person for the spot of blood, and also for the six items, including the cell phone, the tank top and the neck swab from Juliana."

Redding, a one-time Maxim Magazine model, was found dead March 16, 2008, after her mother reported her missing following a missed photo shoot.

But defense attorneys argued the DNA match was "not conclusive", adding, "DNA evidence doesn't tell you when it got there, or how," said attorney George Bueller.

Redding's former boyfriend has not been charged in the crime.

Park is currently free on bond.