June 30, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Judge Postpones Closing Arguments of Trial Accusing Man of Killing 20th Century Fox Executive

A Los Angeles judge Thursday postponed the conclusion of closing arguments in the trial of a San Fernando Valley man accused of killing a 20th Century Fox distribution executive who was having an affair with the defendant’s estranged wife.

Judge Stephen A. Marcus told the court that two jurors could not be present Thursday and scheduled the proceedings to continue at 9 a.m. Friday.

On Wednesday, prosecutor Bobby Grace told the eight-woman, four-man jury that John Creech attacked his estranged wife’s married lover, Gavin Smith, out of revenge after using a GPS cell phone app to track her down and sneak up on the two in Smith’s Mercedes-Benz in West Hills in May 2012.

But defense attorney Irene Nunez urged jurors to acquit the 44-year-old defendant, telling jurors that Creech had a lawful right to defend himself in a fight that he testified was initiated by Smith, a 57-year-old married father of three sons.

“This was a tragic fight between two grown men, two flawed men, two imperfect men,” Creech’s attorney said. “There was no intention to kill. This was a spontaneous fight.”

Grace told jurors Creech “went to great lengths to hide all of the things that he did to Gavin Smith,” whose remains were found in a shallow grave in the Angeles National Forest in the Antelope Valley about 2 1/2 years after he disappeared.

The prosecutor argued that the actions Creech took to hide Smith’s body and car were inconsistent with self-defense and demonstrated a “stunning consciousness of guilt.”

“He deliberately, viciously, intently delivered murderous blows to Gavin Smith repeatedly, which resulted in Gavin Smith’s death,” the prosecutor said. “This wasn’t a kids’ fight … There’s clearly an intent to kill here that’s evidenced by the severity of the injuries to Gavin Smith.”

“In this case, there’s certainly motive,” Grace said of the on-and-off again relationship between Creech’s estranged wife, Chandrika Cade, and Smith.

The prosecutor told jurors Creech and Cade had an “unconventional marriage” in which the two “both cheated on each other,” and that it was “essentially a countdown to murder” when Creech “first uttered the threat” in 2010 that he would kill Smith if he continued to see Cade as two of Smith’s sons pleaded for their father’s life after learning about the affair.

The deputy district attorney told jurors Creech was an ex-con free on bail at the time and knew there would be consequences if he beat Smith up and left him somewhere, adding that was a “key reason why he could not leave Gavin Smith alive.”

Creech’s attorney acknowledged her client is a “convicted drug seller” but said he “had to fight for his life” after the man who had “intruded” into his life and marriage approached him outside the Mercedes-Benz with a weapon following a fistfight between the two men inside the sedan.

“In this situation, killing Gavin was lawful,” Nunez said, telling jurors that there was “no intent to kill” and that the “only just verdict” would be to find her client not guilty.

The defense attorney has repeatedly said that Creech made “errors in judgment” after Smith’s death. She told jurors that her client was an ex-con who “panicked” and was scared after he realized Smith was dead.

“He made some really bad mistakes and errors after he had to defend himself,” she said, saying that her client buried Smith in a blanket and then prayed for him.

Creech told the Los Angeles Superior Court jury that he took “full accountability” for failing to call 911 after what he described as mutual combat or to seek help for Smith, who was a member of UCLA’s 1975 NCAA-winning basketball team under Coach John Wooden and had worked for 20th Century Fox for 18 years.

Creech testified that Smith threw the first punch, choked him and tried to gouge out his eye as the two men struggled inside Smith’s car.

The prosecutor countered that Creech’s testimony that he was acting in self-defense is “contrived” and that his claim that Smith came at him wielding a multi-purpose tool in the latter part of the struggle between the two men was “just completely made up by this defendant.”

Creech could face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of first-degree murder and if jurors find true the special circumstance allegation of murder while lying in wait. The jury can also consider the lesser offenses of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

Related Posts

Historic Sawtelle Nursery Site Could Become 40-Unit Townhome Complex

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Sawtelle Continues to Change as Nursery Site Faces Redevelopment Plans have been submitted to redevelop a nursery site, F.K. Nursery,...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Overdose Deaths Drop 22% in Los Angeles County, Marking Largest Decline on Record

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Fentanyl Fatalities Fell 37% as County Ramps up Funding for Prevention, Treatment Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County declined...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Robbery Suspects Captured in Beverly Hills After License Plate Alert Triggers Pursuit

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Foot Chase Ends in Arrests After ALPR Flags Robbery Vehicle in Beverly Hills An alert from the Beverly Hills Police...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...

Supporters to Gather This Weekend for Longtime Culver City Paleta Seller Held in Detention

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Family and Neighbors Will Gather Sunday to Sell Paletas and Raise Funds Supporters will gather this Sunday at Veterans Park...

Suspect Charged by Los Angeles DA with Shooting of Santa Monica Cop and Teens

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Faces Attempted Murder Charges and Over 100 Years to Life in Prison if Convicted. Criminal charges have been filed against...

Café UCLA Pops Up in Westwood to Honor Arthur Ashe’s Historic Wimbledon Win

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Three-Day Celebration Includes Giveaways in Tribute to the Iconic Athlete and Activist UCLA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Arthur...

Captain America Hits the Skirball Big Screen for Heroic Outdoor Movie Night

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Museum-Goers Can Also Catch a Superhero-Themed Drawing Session The Skirball Cultural Center will host an outdoor screening of Captain America:...

Demolition Underway at Beverly Grove Squatter Site After Mystery Fire Renews Safety Fears

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Crews Begin Tearing Down Long-Vacant Apartments on First and Flores  Demolition has begun at a group of long-abandoned apartment buildings...