SLAIN MAN'S KIN SAY PAIN LASTS OFFICER'S '83 KILLER GETTING NEW PENALTY HEARING.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer In the 17 years since Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. police Officer Paul Verna was shot, his killer got a new chance to tell San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. jurors why he should avoid the death penalty. And Verna's sister got a chance Monday to tell them how much she still hurts from her loss. ``I thought the pain of it would kill me, that the world should stop, but it didn't,'' said Susan Blanford, during the rehearing rehearing n. conducting a hearing again based on the motion of one of the parties to a lawsuit, petition or criminal prosecution, usually by the court or agency which originally heard the matter. of the penalty phase for Kenneth Gay, convicted of fatally fa·tal·ly adv. 1. So as to cause death; mortally: fatally injured. 2. So as to result in disaster or ruin. 3. According to the decree of fate; inevitably. Adv. 1. shooting her brother. ``I thought I'd get over it, but I haven't. It's just a never-ending thing.'' Verna was shot June 2, 1983, during a traffic stop in Lake View Terrace. Raynard Cummings and Gay were convicted of murder in 1985 and received death sentences. But the state Supreme Court ordered a new penalty hearing for Gay because he did not have adequate representation initially. On Monday, a San Fernando Superior Court jury heard emotional testimony from Blanford and several other family members, including Verna's youngest son, Ryan; mother, Edith; and father, John. Although he was only 4 when his father was killed, Ryan Verna said he feels like he knows him. ``I hear a lot of stories about my father, about the kind things he did for other people. I've tried to emulate em·u·late tr.v. em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing, em·u·lates 1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated. 2. my father.'' Following his father, he expects to graduate from the Los Angeles Police Academy in December. ``I've always wanted to be a police officer.'' Edith Verna spoke warmly of her slain son even as she fought back tears. She said she supported his career choice, although she had misgivings about its safety. ``I was proud of him for wanting to serve people.'' It was Christmas 1998 when she heard news of the new trial. ``I hated to see it,'' she said, ``to see it come over again.'' The slain officer's father was enraged en·rage tr.v. en·raged, en·rag·ing, en·rag·es To put into a rage; infuriate. [Middle English *enragen, from Old French enrager : en-, causative pref. by the news. He said he couldn't handle sitting through the first trial and stayed away, but agreed to come to court Monday. ``If nothing else, I feel obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to Paul, if it will do any good. I feel obligated to the court, to my family, to my friends out there. I got to do it for me too.'' For Blanford, testifying in court was an effort to bring about closure. ``I'm still searching for some sort of closure. I thought this would help.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: - Susan Blanford Sister of slain LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. officer Paul Verna, left |
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