Trial Begins in Killing of Movie Theater Owner

LOS ANGELES — The man charged with killing the owner of the Silent Movie Showcase was promised $25,000 by the victim’s live-in companion to carry out the killing, a prosecutor told jurors Monday in outlining the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

James Vansickle, a 38-year-old theater projectionist who had a seven-year personal and business relationship with theater owner Lawrence Austin, 74, allegedly hired co-defendant Christian Rodriguez, 21, to kill Austin and make it look like robbery.

As about 60 people watched the movie short “School Days” on Jan. 17, 1997, Rodriguez allegedly ran down the aisle firing a gun before going out an exit, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Ramseyer said Monday.

“Why did [Rodriguez] do this? He did it because he was paid. He was paid by Mr. Vansickle to kill Mr. Lawrence Austin,” the prosecutor said. “What’s absolutely clear is that this was a murder-for-hire.”

The attorney for Rodriguez didn’t make an opening statement.

Two separate juries were hearing the case against Rodriguez and Vansickle because there is some evidence that does not apply to both defendants. Most of the testimony, however, will be presented to the juries simultaneously.

Rodriguez and Vansickle were charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted robbery and commercial burglary. They face a possible death penalty if convicted of murder along with special circumstances of lying in wait or murder for financial gain.

Vansickle allegedly gave Rodriguez a handgun and promised him $25,000 to kill Austin and another $5,000 to kill a concession worker at the Fairfax Avenue theater. The concession worker was wounded, but survived, and is expected to testify.

Ramseyer didn’t offer jurors a motive for the killing. Authorities said earlier that Vansickle was the sole beneficiary of Austin’s $1-million-plus estate.

The Silent Movie Showcase was the nation’s only theater devoted solely to silent films.