A man accused of several criminal charges, and has chosen to represent himself, has claimed that the senior citizen he is accused of attacking, was, in his mind, a dangerous gang member, as reported by the Daily Breeze.
The Los Angeles man, and former U.S. Marine, G.D.L., 50, stands accused of kidnapping, rape and beating a Hawthorne woman almost 20 years his senior.
G.D.L., in claiming that the victim crashed her bicycle into him as he was trying to escape two men, said, "This was self-defense. I was in fear for my life. ... These people told me they would make me disappear."
Jurors were instructed by Judge Kathryn Solorzano to disregard most of G.D.L.'s argument. The jury is now in the midst of deliberations.
During G.D.L.'s arguments to the jury, both the judge and Deputy District Attorney Robin Allen interrupted him. The two contended that G.D.L.'s statements were not supported by any evidence – which he had presented very little of during the course of the two-week trial to dispute the prosecution's case – and G.D.L. didn't testify on his own behalf.
G.D.L. allegedly didn't understand how evidence is to be produced in court, or, he simply wanted to use his closing arguments in an attempt to tell his own story – without fear of cross-examination by the prosecution.
On September 18 G.D.L, allegedly attacked the 69 year-old female victim while she was collecting aluminum cans at Jefferson Avenue and 129th Street. A neighborhood resident telephoned 911 to report what appeared to be two people engaged in sexual activity on her front lawn.
When police officers arrived at the scene they saw G.D.L. on top of the victim. While he had his pants down, he had wrapped his hands around her throat and appeared to be trying to choke her.
He tried to run from officers, tripped, fought with two of them and received three taser shots before he gave in.
During the trial, testimony revealed that G.D.L. was wearing a condom during the attack, and, that the victim's DNA was contained in the condom.
During the attack G.D.L. is accused of beating her so ferociously that it has caused bleeding in her brain and subsequent brain damage – the victim has remained in a coma for three weeks.
The victim is unable to respond, feed herself, speak or stand.
G.D.L. claimed to have been running from two men he met a convenience store at El Segundo Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, when he encountered the woman. He said that she wore a dark hooded jacked that led him to believe that she was a gang member. While he continued to run, he collided with her bicycle.
G.D.L. further contended, "I was trying to protect my life. I had no intention of raping this woman. ... I didn't rape this woman. I didn't attempt to rape this woman. I didn't know her age."
G.D.L. has served prison time in Pennsylvania for sexual assault.
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