Woman’s testimony opens murder trial

Thursday, March 18, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

An eyewitness to the June slaying of an unarmed man who had been walking home from the grocery store testified Wednesday that she was shocked by the unprovoked violence but wasn't wearing her glasses so she couldn't identify the attackers.

The trial of Julius Bradford, 18, began Wednesday on charges of murder with use of a deadly weapon and attempted robbery in the death of Benito Zambrano-Lopez, 48, along with Steven Perry, 17 and Tyrone Williams, 16. Perry and Williams will be tried separately from Bradford.

Prosecutors allege Bradford participated in the beatings and helped kill Zambrano-Lopez, a hard-working immigrant from Mexico, as he walked home from a market near Vegas Drive and Rancho Road.

Tracy Jimenez, who was walking home from the market around that Sunday morning with her child in a stroller, said she saw three teens beat a man and then shoot him.

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