Trial Set For Lawsuit Over Murder Probe That Netted LAPD Officer

Trial will take place early next year of a lawsuit by an LAPD civilian employee who alleges a detective overlooked evidence that would have implicated a police officer in a murder much earlier, a judge ruled today.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson set trial of Jennifer Francis' case for Jan. 26. Alyssa Schabloski, one of Francis' attorneys, said she expects an LAPD Internal Affairs investigation of the type that typically results from the filing of such a lawsuit.

Francis, a criminalist in the LAPD's Scientific Investigation Division with extensive experience in using DNA to identify crime suspects, filed the retaliation suit Oct. 30.

The suit alleges that LAPD investigator Cliff Shepard ignored the results of DNA tests Francis performed. The results were important years later when another detective determined that LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus killed Sherri Rasmussen, according to the suit.

Francis also alleges that Shepard knew Lazarus had ties to the victim and did not want to consider her a suspect. The suit alleges she was told by supervisors beginning in 2005 to ignore possible evidence implicating Lazarus.

"Plaintiff was outing a coverup that lasted almost 25 years," the suit states.

In 2010, Francis was told by the LAPD crime lab's assistant director that the District Attorney's Office no longer wanted her involved in the high- profile Grim Sleeper serial murder case, according to the suit. He also said she had allowed the "emotional side of her brain to take over the rational," the suit states.

Rasmussen, a nurse, was found beaten and shot in the Van Nuys townhouse she shared with her husband. Lazarus was convicted of first-degree murder in Los Angeles Superior Court and was sentenced in May 2012 to 27 years to life in prison.

—City News Service