Opening Statements Begin in Second Security Guard Murder Case

Opening statements are scheduled today in the trial of two of four reputed Palm Springs gang members accused in the fatal beating of a 66-year-old security guard.

Jerrett Lewis, 20, and Akil Williams, 19, are charged with first-degree murder for the June 9, 2007, attack on Bower Security Co. guard Wallace Brown near Rosa Parks Road and El Dorado Boulevard.

Lewis and Williams, who were 17 at the time of Brown’s death, face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted. They deny beating Brown.

Also charged in Brown’s death and awaiting trial is Darius Lee, 21, who will face the death penalty if convicted.

A fourth defendant, Jamar Thomas, 21, was convicted in April for his role in the beating. A jury recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors have alleged that all four defendants dragged Brown from his van before beating him at a construction site in the northern end of Palm Springs.

Brown, a retired Marine, died at a hospital three days later without regaining consciousness.