POLICE MAKE ARREST IN PAINTER'S SLAYING.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

A 50-year-old man with an ``extensive'' criminal record was in custody Friday in the fatal stabbing of a 65-year-old commercial painter in Beverly Hills' first homicide since 2001, officials said.

Nathan Hall was arrested about 9:20 p.m. Thursday after he was found hiding in the attic of his home in South Los Angeles, authorities said. He was being held without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder in the slaying of Jurgen Hapke, 65, of Burbank.

Beverly Hills detective Sgt. Jack Douglas said Hall has an ``extensive criminal history'' including previously alleged acts of violence.

Hapke, 65, was killed about 7 a.m. Dec. 14, outside the Wells Fargo Bank in the 9300 block of Wilshire Boulevard, when he came to the aide of his best friend and business partner, Helmut Mende, 71, who was attacked by a man wielding a large kitchen knife.

Mende said the attack was unprovoked, and police refused Friday to speculate on a motive.

Mende, who is still recovering from stab wounds, said neighbors pounded on the door of his North Hollywood home at 6 a.m. Friday to bring him the news that police had a suspect in custody.

``I'm glad,'' Mende said. ``That's what we were hoping for. It would be terrible if he could hide someplace and never be found.''

One of Hapke's stepsons, Brent Turnham, 32, of Burbank, said more than 450 people attended Hapke's funeral Wednesday.

``It's a shame my father had to lose his life to this senselessness, and he was just a good man,'' Turnham said. ``My dad had friends from the highest places to the lowest; if there was a party, everyone would gather around him to hear him talk because he was so animated. He would captivate anyone's attention.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com