LOS ANGELES >> A man hired to work on cars belonging to a mother-son tandem convicted of murdering a New York widow said he was asked to help dispose of the body of a slain businessman, grand jury transcripts reveal. Kimes duo asked
for help dumping bodyAssociated Press
The Los Angeles County Grand Jury indicted former Hawaii residents Sante and Kenneth Kimes last month on charges of murdering David Kazdin, 63. Both have pleaded innocent to one count each of murder, along with the special circumstances of murder for financial gain, murder of a witness and multiple murder. They are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.
Prosecutors believe the Kimeses killed Kazdin, a Los Angeles businessman, after he learned that they had forged his name to obtain a $200,000 loan. Kazdin's body was found in a trash bin near Los Angeles Airport in March 1998.
Grand jury transcripts show that a witness told authorities that he helped Kenneth Kimes wrap Kazdin's body in plastic bags, put it in the trunk of the victim's car and discard it.
Shawn Little testified that he waited outside Kazdin's house when he heard a sound "like a gun going off," then saw Kenneth Kimes holding a gun and a man lying on the floor gasping for air, the transcripts said.
"He told me to help him with this body, to help him clean up and help him put this body in bags," said Little.
Little said Kimes ordered him to look for checkbooks and bank statements. After dumping the body and the dismantled handgun, Kimes bought his mother a $100 bouquet of flowers before returning home.
Prosecutors are expected to present letters and notes written by the Kimeses that point to their guilt. One notebook entry read, "Kill D.K."
The two were convicted in May 2000 of murdering 82-year-old Irene Silverman, whose body has never been found, and conspiring to steal her $7 million Manhattan home. Sante Kimes was sentenced to 120 years in prison, and her son to 125 years.