Jury Convicts Man in Slayings of College Pair

In a verdict that could result in the death penalty, a South-Central Los Angeles man was convicted Wednesday in the brutal murders nearly four years ago of two college sweethearts who were abducted near the UCLA campus and shot to death in a remote field.

A Santa Monica Superior Court jury deliberated for about three days before returning the verdicts against Stanley Bernard Davis, 27, who was accused of using an Uzi semiautomatic pistol to kill UCLA freshman Michelle Anne Boyd, 19, and Cal State Northridge sophomore Brian Edward Harris, 20.

“This is living proof that what goes around comes around,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Harvey Giss said after the verdicts were read aloud in the courtroom, which was guarded by at least 10 sheriff’s deputies. “This is pay-back day.”

Davis was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnaping, robbery, arson and grand theft auto in the deaths of the two students from Ventura County. The jury also found Davis guilty in the 1984 robbery-kidnaping of another UCLA student, David Kingsmill, who testified during the trial.

Since Davis, a one-time gang member, was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstance--multiple murders and use of a weapon during robbery and kidnaping--the jury, when the penalty phase begins Monday, will be asked to decide between death in the gas chamber at San Quentin Prison, or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Shows No Emotion

Davis, as he did throughout the three-week trial, showed no outward signs of emotion Wednesday.

But for the victims’ parents, who were in court daily, the moment was very emotional.

“It’s been a long four years,” said Mary C. Harris of Thousand Oaks, fighting back tears. “But this is something you never get over.”

Christine Boyd of Westlake Village, also teary eyed, added, “This was the verdict that we were hoping for. Thank God!”

Authorities said Davis was one of four South-Central Los Angeles men who, on Sept. 30, 1985, commandeered Harris’ Honda car near Boyd’s apartment in Westwood, forced Harris into the trunk and drove the couple to a secluded field off Mulholland Drive in the Santa Monica Mountains. There, the two were shot in the back of the head at close range.

Damon L. Redmond, 24, who admitted setting fire to the Honda in an attempt to cover up the crimes, but denied shooting the couple, was convicted and sentenced earlier this year to 53 years to life in prison. Donald Bennett, 24, who pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder, was sentenced to 18 years to life.

It was the testimony of the fourth man, DeAndre Brown, 25, that was crucial in the case against Davis and Redmond. In exchange, Brown was granted immunity from prosecution.

In search of a vehicle for a robbery that was never committed, Brown testified, the four went to Westwood, where they abducted the couple and drove them to the Sepulveda Pass area. Brown, who said he stayed in the car, told the court that Davis marched the pair into the field and shot them.

“Then he came back and just got into the car,” Brown testified. “I asked him, ‘What did you do to them?’ He said he killed somebody. I asked him why and he said he didn’t want no witnesses.”

Davis’ two attorneys, who said they were not surprised by Wednesday’s verdicts, contended during trial that Brown was the triggerman.

“(Brown) is a leader, a liar . . . an opportunist,” defense attorney Seymour Applebaum told the jury.