By Lookout Staff
February 19 -- Paul Carpenter, who was the subject of a 10-year manhunt by police, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the 1998 murder of a German tourist that rocked Santa Monica.
The fourth suspect arrested for the fatal shooting of Horst Fietze outside the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Carpenter also pleaded not guilty to robbery charges.
Carpenter – who was arrested last Wednesday in Kingston, where he was living under a false identity and working at an auto dealership -- was arraigned at the Airport Courthouse.
Carpenter had been a fugitive since he, along with his girlfriend and two male friends, allegedly shot and killed Fietze during a botched robbery attempt near the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel on October 12, 1998.
Fietze, 50, was walking back to his hotel from the beach with his wife and another couple when he was confronted by the four assailants. He was shot after failing to understand the robber’s demands
The other three suspects were convicted seven years ago following a five-day non-jury trial.
Lamont Dion Santos, the gunman who shot Fietze, was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison, while Roshana Latiesha Roberts, who drove the getaway driver, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison. Tyrina Lakeisha Griffin was sentenced to 16 years to life for serving as an accomplice.
Carpenter was charged in 1999 with one count of murder and three counts of attempted robbery, making him a candidate for the death penalty, according to officials at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
A tipster who received a $20,000 reward alerted federal agents of the whereabouts of the elusive suspect, who was featured several times on the television show "America's Most Wanted."
Using 11 aliases and four birth dates, Carpenter remained at large, possibly travelling to San Diego and South Carolina before fleeing to Jamaica, where he lived among friends and had a 3-year-old child, authorities said.
He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on March 24.
