This past Friday, a Los Angeles man that sexually assaulted his girlfriend's 11 year old daughter and then killed her was sentenced to death for the second time.  The man, 58 year old James Heard, allegedly killed the girl because she bit off part of his tongue.

In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Heard's conviction, but then overturned his first death sentence.  The Court found that the trial judge improperly excused a man during the jury selection process.

Heard was sentenced again in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the death of Katrina Brown, which occurred in December 1990.  At the time of the crimes, the girl's mother was at work.  Prosecutors say that the girl bit off part of Heard's tongue during the attack.  Heard then poured a bottle of alcohol down the girl's throat in hopes that she would regurgitate his tongue before he strangled her.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer!