By Daily Press staff
The man accused of killing a Santa Monica woman pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a charge of capital murder.
Victor Paleologus, 40, could face the death penalty for allegedly killing 21-year-old Kristi Johnson. He allegedly lured her in the Century City Mall by posing as a publicity photographer and telling her she had a good chance of becoming the next James Bond girl in an upcoming film.
Johnson disappeared on Feb. 15 after telling her roommates she was going to a photo shoot in Beverly Hills. She was found dead March 3 at the bottom of a ravine in Laurel Canyon, a remote neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. Her ankles were bound and she was covered in a sleeping bag.
Johnson’s autopsy revealed that she was sexually assaulted and died of strangulation, as well as blunt-force trauma and other contusions, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Eleanor Hunter said.
Six Santa Monica Police officers and three officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department testified against Paleologus during a preliminary trial late last month.
They laid out evidence that the prosecution says links him to the events leading up to Johnson’s disappearance. The evidence also establishes a pattern of Paleologus luring at least seven other women by posing as a publicity photographer for a James Bond movie or as a industry executive.
In most cases, Paleologus asked that the women show up to the photo shoots wearing provocative clothing, including black high heel stiletto pumps, a short black mini skirt and nylons, according to testimony.
Paleologus is scheduled to be back in court in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 11 for a pre-trial conference with his attorney, Andrew Flier.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 11, 2003. Read the original PDF.