Murder victims’ mothers testify

Kim Smith

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

One by one the mothers of four young people shot to death eight years ago took the stand Wednesday and tearfully testified about the devastation wrought by Richard Powell.

Wednesday was the first day in the penalty phase of Powell's murder trial. If prosecutors are able to persuade jurors that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweigh any mitigators, the 37-year-old could get the death penalty.

Powell was convicted last week in the May 1, 1992, shooting deaths of Samantha Scotti, 24, Lisa Boyer, 26, Germaine Woods, 19, and Stephen Walker, 18.

Prosecutors believe Powell wanted Scotti dead because she set up a drug deal between him and an undercover police officer in December 1990.

As the 4-year-old daughter of a roommate watched, Scotti was shot eight times as she took a shower. The other three died, prosecutors said, simply because they were there.

Powell's co-defendant, Vernell "Little Ray" Evans Jr., was convicted and placed on death row in 1994.

Prosecutor Mel Harmon told jurors during his opening remarks Wednesday that four aggravating circumstances exist in the case. He said the murders were committed during a burglary, there was a great risk of death to more than one person and the murders were committed to avoid arrest.

In addition, Harmon said Scotti's death involved torture, pointing out she was shot multiple times, some of them nonfatal shots.

Deputy Special Public Defender Lee McMahon told the jurors that she and co-counsel Bret Whipple will prove that Powell has "some goodness" in him.

McMahon said Powell's mother, one of 10 children, married Powell's father "so she could eat every day" and that Powell's father was a womanizer, batterer, drinker and gambler who fathered 33 children.

Powell, who grew up in south-central Los Angeles, is himself one of eight children, who was essentially raised by an older sister, McMahon said.

By convicting him of four counts of first-degree murder, McMahon told the jury they've already guaranteed that Powell will die in prison.

Each of the victims' mothers, two of whom are now raising their grandchildren, testified that their lives will never be the same because of the murders.

Debra Brandon, Walker's mother, said every year she and her grandson release balloons at the cemetery on her son's birthday. The boy, now 8, always asks if the balloons will make it to his father in heaven.

Theresa Stevens, Woods' mother, spoke about three instances when her son gave haircuts or his lunch money to homeless people so they could feed their children.

On her first day of kindergarten, Stevens said, her granddaughter asked her why God took her daddy when he has so many angels already.

"I can't tell her why. Can you tell her why?" Stevens asked, looking straight at Powell.