GERHARD BECKER PRELIMINARY HEARING WITNESS LIST - QUICK LINKS

Preliminary Hearing Testimony Witness List  11/13/12 - 11/28/12
Gerhard Becker Quick Links - (Main Quick Links Page)

CASE # BA39394001
Gerhard Becker: Arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter on February 15th, 2012.

Glenn Allen: 38 year veteran LAFD firefighter.  Injured on February 16th, 2011, responding to a massive fire at Becker's recently completed luxury home in the Hollywood Hills. A ceiling collapsed on Allen. Allen succumbed to his injuries on February 18th, 2011.

Prosecution:
DDA Sean Carney
DDA Frances Young - (Removed from case.)

Defense:
Donald Re

Part I, Day 1, November 13th, 2012
1. GREG STECK 
(Owner Hearth Products Construction Company, Katerina Ohio. Manufacturer of the  "HWI Fire pit trough," an outdoor fire pit, that was installed in the Becker property. Describes the device, it's safety's and how it should be installed.)
 
2. CAPTAIN EDWARD WATTERS (LAFD firefighter who arrived on the scene to battle the fire. Described the scene, the fire, where it spread and what the strategy was to fight the fire.)

Part II, Day 2, November 14th, 2012
2. CAPTAIN EDWARD WATTERS (continued)

3. BRAD BESCOS (City of Los Angeles Building Mechanical Inspector - Monitored the construction of the Becker house. Testified he never approved a fireplace and never saw one being built in the Becker property.)

Part III, Day 3 & 4, November 15th, 2012; November 19th, 2012

(No testimony was presented on Day 3.)

4. WILLIAM THOST (LAFD Fire Investigator and sworn peace officer - Investigated the fire and Glenn Allen's death at the Becker property.  Testified about how Allen was found and recovered in the structure; testified about the construction of the house, fireplace and inadequate 'fie blocking.')

Part IV, Day 5, November 20th, 2012
4. WILLIAM THOST (continued)

Part V, Day 6, November 26th, 2012
3. BRAD BESCOS (cross examination continued)

Part VI, Day 7 November 27th, 2012
3. BRAD BESCOS (redirect examination)

5. DALE FEB (Independent Fireplace Inspector/Consultant - Gave an expert opinion as to the quality of construction and code requirements followed/not followed of the fire pit/trough installed in the Becker property.)

Part VII, Day 8, November 28th, 2012
6. GREG STEARNS (LAPD Detective, Robbery Homicide - Investigated the fire and death of Glenn Allen)