Parents hear painful testimony in trial
The parents of a slain Santa Monica woman left the courtroom in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday relieved that the man accused of allegedly killing their only daughter will stand trial on capital murder charges.
Terry Wark and Kirk Johnson, parents of Kristi Johnson, sat through two days of testimony detailing the events that led up to their daughter’s Feb. 15 murder. Accused killer Victor Paleologus sat next to his defense lawyer, Andrew Flier, in an orange prison jumpsuit with shackles around his ankles. He avoided eye contact with Wark and Johnson, who sat behind him throughout the trial.
Paleologus was active in his defense, whispering to Flier and making notes during the testimony of nine police officers.
Kirk Johnson, who lives in Michigan, sat next to his mother, Kathryn Johnson, taking copious notes of the testimony. When Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dennis Aichroth ruled Thursday that Paleologus will stand trial on seven felony counts, Kirk Johnson began crying.
Wark, who lives in Los Gatos, Calif., rarely looked at Paleologus, who she described as a “creature.” She said listening to the details leading up to her daughter’s death while being in the same room with her accused killer was almost too much to bear.
“I had no desire (to look at him),” she said. “He is not worthy of my anger... I will not allow myself to be another victim.”
Both Kirk Johnson and Wark lashed out at Flier’s aggressiveness in the courtroom and his statements in the press.
“Being here today and yesterday is a great insult to our justice system devised to divert attention and to protect the accused from the issue at hand, which is the brutal sexual assault and murder of my daughter, Kristi Johnson,” Wark said. “It’s an insult to the multiple prior victims and their loved ones.”
Kirk Johnson said he made eye contact with Paleologus once, who nodded at him. Kirk Johnson said his anger is growing toward Paleologus and Flier each day.
“I publicly denounce Andrew Flier, his tactics and he has used the media for his benefit,” Kirk Johnson said. “He is using the media to taint jurors and witnesses.”
In his closing arguments, Flier said the murder of Kristi Johnson is a tragic loss, but is adamant Paleologus is innocent of the charges. Flier, a former prosecutor and son of a Superior Court judge, said Wednesday he believes Paleologus didn’t have anything to do with the murder.
Wark, who played an integral part in the search for Kristi Johnson before she was found dead on March 3, said no matter how much she tried to prepare for it, the ongoing trial of Paleologus is difficult to deal with. But she said she has faith in the process and that justice will be served.
“I was somewhat prepared for this, but never truly prepared to deal with the murder of my daughter,” she said. “What we have to understand is that crimes like this are hate crimes against women.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2003. Read the original PDF.