Three to Be Arraigned in Shooting of German Tourist

By Anne La Jeunesse

A man and two women were ordered Tuesday to stand trial in the fatal shooting of a German tourist visiting Santa Monica last year a day before he was to return home to Europe.

The crime captured media attention around the world as the safety of the picture postcard city was hotly debated.

Following a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Santa Monica Municipal Court, 18-year-old Tyrina Lakeisha Griffin, 19-year-old Latiesha Roberts and 21-year-old Lamont Dion Santos were ordered to face trial in Superior Court for the Oct. 12, 1998 slaying of Horst Fietze.

All were ordered to stand trial on murder with the special circumstance of murder committed during the commission of attempted robbery, and of attempted robbery.

They are scheduled to be arraigned in Santa Monica Superior Court on Oct. 19.

The victim, a 50-year-old maintenance worker from Lobau, Germany, was winding up a dream tour of the United States with his wife and another couple when he was shot during an apparent attempted robbery, according to police, as the visitors strolled around 9:30 p.m. near the posh Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. The two German couples were walking home from dinner to the nearby Sea Shore Hotel, where they were staying while in town.

Fietze was shot several times in the chest and left bleeding on Appian Way after being set upon by robbers, with whom he struggled because he did not understand their commands, made in English, police said.

The robbers fled, apparently without getting any cash or belongings from their target, who died about one hour later after being rushed to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, police said.

Investigators said that they believe Santos, who goes by the street name "Baby Demon," and who was arrested and extradited from South Carolina, was the actual shooter.

Roberts, who allegedly uses the street name "Baby Doll," confessed to being the getaway car driver, according to court documents.

A manhunt continues for a second man believed to have been involved in the killing.