Lazarus Trial Goes to Jury

Jury deliberations resumed today in the trial of a former Los Angeles police detective accused of killing her ex-boyfriend's wife in Van Nuys in 1986.

Stephanie Lazarus, 51, is charged with murder in the Feb. 24, 1986, shooting death of 29-year-old hospital nursing administrator Sherri Rasmussen in the condominium the victim shared with her husband, John Ruetten -- Lazarus' one-time love interest.

During closing arguments, a prosecutor told jurors that "overwhelming evidence," including DNA from a bite mark on the victim, links Lazarus to the killing, but a defense attorney countered that the evidence pointed to her innocence.

The eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon before breaking for the day. Today is the first full day of deliberations.

"This case is a banquet of evidence," Deputy District Attorney Shannon Presby told the Los Angeles Superior Court jury earlier. "This (DNA) is not the only piece of evidence."

Defense attorney Mark Overland countered that the evidence raised "questions of reasonable doubt" and "point to the innocence of Stephanie Lazarus."

–City News Sevice