Teenager linked to second slaying

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003 | 11:31 a.m.

One of three teens charged with killing a man as he walked home from a grocery store in June also shot and killed jewelry kiosk owner Anthony Limongello on May 5, attorneys say.

Defense lawyers and prosecutors involved with the Limongello case said Tuesday that three people have told investigators that Julius Bradford said he shot Limongello. Prosecutors said they are working to corroborate the statements from the three before deciding whether to file charges against Bradford for that murder.

Bradford already is set to go to trial on March 16 trial on murder and attempted robbery charges stemming from the June 9 killing of Benito Zambrano-Lopez, who was beaten and shot near Vegas and Rancho drives while on his way home from a grocery store. Bradford is not accused of being the shooter in that case.

Meanwhile, Natasha Barker and Aaron Daniels are already facing murder, robbery and kidnapping charges for Limongello's death. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Daniels.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent said charges against Bradford in the Limongello murder could make the case against Daniels stronger "because it shows his complicity."

"Daniels was either the shooter or he aided and abetted," Laurent said, adding that in either case Daniels can be charged with murder.

But Daniels' attorney, Chris Oram, said the statements from the three, whom he referred to as "snitches," would show that his client is not responsible for Limongello's death and that Bradford shot him.

Oram also said that there is someone who can say that Daniels was in his home at the time of the murder.

Bradford's attorney Sean Sullivan said his client has not been charged in connection with Limongello's death. He had no comment about the allegation that his client told others he shot Limongello.

Daniels' attorney Chris Oram said the three informants were all inmates at the county jail when they spoke with prosecutors about the case. Oram and Laurent would not identify them.

Oram said their statements could not be used against Daniels, now 21, because the three spoke with Bradford and not Daniels. The prosecution alleges that Barker, then 19, lured Limongello to a shopping center near Rancho Drive and Washington Avenue by calling a mutual friend and saying her boyfriend had abandoned her. After Limongello pulled his black Lincoln Navigator into the parking lot, Daniels allegedly jumped into the back of the vehicle and pulled a gun on Limongello.

Limongello, who owned a jewelry kiosk selling Italian charm bracelets at the Fashion Show mall, was found dead next to a trash bin.

Daniels and Bradford were caught on surveillance videos using Limongello's automated teller card to withdraw money after his death, court records say.

Oram and Laurent went before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Tuesday to argue several motions in the Limongello case.

Bonaventure approved the prosecution's request to move the start of the trial from Jan. 5 to May 3 to give prosecutors time to complete DNA testing of two bloodstained T-shirts taken from the home shared by Daniels and Bradford.

Laurent said the test results could affect both the Limongello and Zambrano-Lopez cases.

Authorities have also claimed both crimes were gang-related, and were done to impress other gang members and elevate their status in a gang.

The others charged in the June 9 murder are Steven Perry and Tyrone Williams, who allegedly shot Zambrano-Lopez, a 48-year-old immigrant laborer.

In response to other motions Tuesday, Bonaventure denied Oram's request that the prosecution explain why they are seeking the death penalty for Daniels, and granted Oram's request for any records or recordings of phone calls Daniels and Bradford made from the county detention center that the prosecution has.

Bonaventure also scheduled a hearing for Jan. 30 to determine whether the Zambrano-Lopez and Limongello cases are connected.

Daniels is being held without bail. Barker was allowed to post $50,000 bail and remain under house arrest while awaiting trial because she is pregnant. Oram said Barker has since given birth.