Beverly Hills, CA: Couple charged with killing son of film producer

By THOMAS WATKINS (AP)
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — A couple were charged Thursday with fatally stabbing a movie producer's son who had dated one of the suspects.
Scott Joseph Barker, 23, and Chie Alexandra Coggins Johnson, 20, were charged with murdering Katsutoshi Takazato, the son of Fuminori Hayashida, who produced several movies in the 1990s, including "Lured Innocence" starring Dennis Hopper.
Prosecutors contend that Barker stabbed Takazato, 21, on Tuesday outside the producer's home in an exclusive neighborhood overlooking the city.
Johnson had been dating Takazato but recently began seeing Barker, who became enraged because he heard Takazato may have abused the woman, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
The defendants could face life in prison if convicted.
The couple remained jailed on $1 million bail each. It was not immediately known whether they had obtained lawyers.
Police searched the area for hours after the killing but failed to find the attacker.
It was announced the next day that police had made three arrests. One man was released after investigators determined he had nothing to do with the killing, prosecutors said.
It was not immediately clear how Johnson might have been involved in the incident. Police would not release further details of the case.
On Thursday, mourners left flowers along the front security gate of the Beverly Hills home, and small candles were lit and arranged to spell the word "Tony," the victim's nickname.
A white sheet was hung over the nearby gate with "Rest in Peace Katsutoshi Tony Takazato" written in black marker, surrounded by tribute notes written by friends.
No one answered the gate outside the white brick home where neighbors said a party was being held the night of the stabbing.
Said Hakim, who lives across the street, said Takazato was friendly who often smiled and greeted his neighbors.
"He was no annoyance to the neighbors and he had a lot of friends," Hakim said.
(This version CORRECTS Adds color, quotes. Corrects suspect's middle name to Joseph. Arraignment scheduled for afternoon. This story is part of AP's general news and entertainment services.)