Lancaster Man Guilty in Death of Woman, 84

A Lancaster man was found guilty Monday of killing an 84-year-old Van Nuys woman during a robbery, a verdict that could pave the way for a death sentence.

Jurors found that Ramzi Ahmed Badwi, 33, killed Grace Perrin in the course of a robbery and burglary.

Perrin was ill and lived alone.

Today prosecutors are scheduled to begin the penalty phase of the trial with testimony from family members and a former girlfriend of Badwi. Prosecutors said the woman will testify that Badwi was violent with her.

Jurors deliberated three days in the criminal courts building in downtown Los Angeles before finding Badwi guilty.

“It was a great verdict that took a lot of time and thought on the part of the jury,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Danette Myers.

Myers described Badwi as an “evil guy” with “a history of violence,” but refused to specify his prior convictions.

Myers said Badwi kicked and beat the woman to death during a midday robbery at her home in the 14400 block of Miranda Street in Van Nuys in an act she described as “unnecessarily brutal.”

Police linked the victim’s jewelry and other personal effects to Badwi through fingerprints and a pawnbroker’s ticket.

“I always believed that there was a reasonable doubt as to his involvement as the perpetrator,” said Badwi’s attorney, Alex Kessel. “My focus now is on convincing the jury not to impose the ultimate sentence of death.”

Perrin was the aunt of Van Nuys Municipal Judge Jessica Perrin Silvers, who testified during the trial in an attempt to identify Perrin’s personal property.

One witness testified that Badwi had spoken with Perrin outside her home the day of the killing.