Los Angeles, CA—In a story of love gone wrong, jealousy and death a career LAPD cop's life hangs in the balance.
What ever happened between Stephanie Lazarus and Sheri Rasmussen remains a secret. Lazarus did not take the stand and the case was reduced to a DNA sample that was kept in exposed and insecure conditions for two decades. There is no living witness to the event that killed Rasmussen.
A jury empaneled has made their guess and announced that they reached a unanimous verdict that will be released at 1:30 PM Pacific Time.
I don’t feel good for the defense and believe this should have been tried as a self-defense case. The larger and more athletic Rasmussen may have begun a fatal fight. There were problems with that because if this was a self-defense case a frightened, young policewomen covered up the event.
If it was self-defense, fleeing the scene and not telling anyone is no crime. However, any jury would frown upon rearranging the scene to make it look like a burglary.
Second guessing the defense lawyer is always easy when he loses a case. Right now we will just have to wait for the verdict to be read.
I hate human lives being saved or destroyed by a guess. That’s exactly what this verdict will be. I wish Lazarus and her family luck.
Update: Lazarus was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and use of a gun. She is facing 25 years to life with a chance of parole. Had she taken the self-defense route it would have been much better. At worst she would have gotten a 2nd degree conviction...
