Not-guilty plea in rape and murder of Venice woman pregnant with twins

A 22-year-old ex-con who allegedly raped and stabbed a 39-year-old Venice woman pregnant with twins pleaded not guilty Thursday to three counts of murder.
Boneetio Kentro Washington of Culver City could face the death penalty. He is due back in court Jan. 12.

Washington, who is being held without bail, is charged with three counts of capital murder, including the special circumstances of multiple murders, murder during a rape and murder during a burglary. He is also charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual penetration.

Authorities believe Washington attacked Eun Y. Kang of Venice about 10 p.m. Dec. 8 in the 1600 block of Electric Avenue, near Venice Boulevard, police and coroner's officials said.

"I heard her scream, and I turned on the lights in my room and outside - - the porch light -- and I had my flashlight. I had it on shining my light in there," Kang's landlord, Arnold Springer, told reporters. "She was screaming 'No. Don't do that. Don't do that. No.' I shined my light in there and I saw him. He was raping her."

Springer told reporters that he screamed "Don't do that. Stop that. I'm going to call the police. And I banged on the glass window with my flashlight and he didn't stop."

Washington was arrested inside the home when police responded to a 911 call, authorities said.

When officers entered the victim's home, they found Kang bleeding from multiple stab wounds, police said. She was taken to a hospital where she died.

Kang was four months pregnant, police said. It was initially believed only one fetus had been destroyed, but it was determined later that the woman had been carrying twins.
Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty for Washington.

Washington has convictions for assaults in North Carolina and committed other crimes in West Los Angeles. In September, after serving two months in a state mental hospital, Washington pleaded no contest to a felony count of residential burglary stemming from a December 2008 break-in and was placed on three years probation. His sentence also included 335 days in jail, but he was given credit for time he had already served.

(Edit:Ruby)