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UPDATED: Randone Acquitted of Murder, Torture

A jury found Brian Lee Randone not guilty on counts of murder and torture in connection with the death of former adult film actress Felicia Lee.

 

A jury of four men and eight women found Brian Lee Randone not guilty of murder and torture charges Friday in connection with the death of former adult film actress Felicia Lee.

Randone, a former preacher, hugged his attorney and later his father after the court clerk read the verdicts.

"Hallelujah, praise God," Randone said before being led out of the court for the last time by the bailiff. "God's in control."

In a trial that lasted nearly a month, Deputy District Attorney Philip Wojdak argued that Randone beat Lee and then smothered her to death in his apartment in the 500 block of Duarte Road on Sept. 11, 2009. She was found with more than 300 blunt force trauma wounds throughout her body, which were the basis of the torture count.

But Randone's attorneys insisted that Lee died of an overdose of GHB, the date rape drug, and sustained the injuries during a seizure-like episode while she was intoxicated on the drug. Lee, a former adult film actress, was known to use the drug recreationally and had a high amount of it in her system when she died.

Mark Overland, one of Randone's two attorneys, said after the verdict that jurors, who began deliberations at about 9 a.m. Thursday and returned a verdict just after 2 p.m. Friday, told him that they made a decision quickly on the murder count.

"It's clear, when I talked to them, they said they reached the decision on the murder charge on Thursday," Overland said.

As to the torture count, Overland said they jury told him they "couldn't find any torture or any reason for him to have done it."

One juror, who declined to identify herself by name, said that a major factor in the jury's decision was the small amount of electrical activity found in Lee's heart when paramedics arrived. They agreed with the defense's argument that "pulseless electrical activity" would not have been present in Lee if she were smothered to death.

Another juror could be overheard telling Wojdak that she had doubts about the verdict.

"I'm not happy with the verdict but there wasn't enough there to say he was guilty," she said.

Wojdak told City News Service that he was "very disappointed" by the verdict.

Randone's father, Angelo Randone, testified in the trial that his son intended to marry Lee. He said outside the courtroom after the verdict that he was "extremely happy" with the jury's decision.

"I'll tell you what, to be honest with you, the tragedy should have never happened," Angelo Randone said. "My son has always been there to help Felicia, not to hurt her."

Randone's mother had a stroke during the course of the trial and he told his father to call her "so she's not worried" as he was being led out of the courtroom.

Overland said his client intends to enjoy his freedom and possibly return to operating his own business in the telecommunications industry.

"He's just relieved the nightmare is over," Overland said.

What do you think of the verdict? Tell us in the comments.

Margaret Angerer

3:13 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011

Who is doing the proof-reading at Monrovia Patch?? Why is there not a capital "G" in the word "God"??

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R Terry

5:04 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011

Reminds me of a person found dead with a very large amount of alcohol in their system so they decide it must have been alcohol poisoning even though the person had been an alcoholic for years and regularly drank enough to kill the average teetotaler. Her being a porn star was a major strike again her right off compared to the defendant...an ex preacher...what a pair.

Did he ever take a lie detector test?

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Lynn

10:02 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011

What about the bruises on the bottom of his feet? Where did those come from?? What about the testimony of the ex-girlfriend? What is a preacher doing with a porn star to begin with? This guy is guilty & he may have gotten away with it for now but he will have to answer to God some day. This guy believes his own lies & he has hid behind God the last 2 years. Randone is guilty, no doubt in my mind.

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Jeff Clutter

8:08 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

He has "hid" behind God much longer than 2 years, and if he is smart he will again "hide" behind God....its the best place to be

Jeff Clutter

8:32 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Lynn, do you know this preacher?

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Laura

8:48 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Another Casey Anthony case, everyone knows he was guilty as sin but unfortunately not enough evidence according to the way the law is written that has to be followed. Its sickening he got away with it but what goes around comes around. Can you tell me what an ex-preacher is doing with a porn star to begin with? Was he trying to save her soul? I suppose in his eyes, he did . . . he killed her.

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Laura

9:00 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011

We saw OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony get away with murder due to technicalities in the way the laws are written, and how those laws are interpreted in the jury room - it appears another murderer has perhaps been set free unwillingly by a jury. We all know Randone is guilty as sin but as they say, what goes around comes around. What is an ex-preacher doing with a porn star anyway? Was he trying to save her soul? Maybe in his eyes he was . . . he killed her.

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Laura

11:27 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Sorry, didn't mean to send my first comment.

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Jeff Clutter

7:43 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Did anyone that is posting here follow the trial or see the evidence? Or are you just assuming you KNOW what happened? Are you speaking without facts or knowledge on the case? Our legal system is a mess but so is people who spout off without knowing the facts!!!!

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Jay

8:04 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

I do note he was a former preacher when dating her. that means he walked away from that life. sometimes you believe one way is spiritually right but do otherwise. I would like to know why some are so convinced he did it when the evidence did not lend a guilty verdict and her friends spoke very positive of this man and his relationship with Felicia.

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R Terry

8:19 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Pretty incredible that someone has a seizure and thrashes around THAT much. What was she bumping into? I will have to admit though, that if he beat her that way, he must have been really angry and if so what set him off? And does he have any history of this? I believe the jury was in the same state of doubt and was unable to really "pin" it on him...even if they wanted to.

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kaylie

8:58 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

I don't understand why one minute point regarding the electric activity in her heart allowed the jury to set him free. In my opinion, that could have been a fluke. Additionally, if you think about it rationally and look at the big picture, how can a person self inflict 300+ wounds while her significant other did not call for help immediately. I have kept up with this trial on a daily basis and have been open-minded until the evidence of his injured feet was brought in (not to mention the blood stains in the closet and no stains around the closet door that she supposedly busted through?). This guy is guilty and history will repeat itself. Too bad for the next victim!

Jeff Clutter

9:02 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

Good thing God gets to judge him, and not us

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Ken

9:54 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

At this point, it is over.
He is innocent in the eyes of the law, administered by jurors from the people.
If it turns out that you know him, and with held evidence that would have brought about a different verdict then shame on you.
I do not know this man, nor the girl, but I do know this, you are fully entitled to your Opinion, and so is he entitled to file a lawsuit for Slander, and Defamation, especially now since this case is over in his favor, if this is within his personality profile, and if he were to do so, he would likely win on that one, too.

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Jay

1:10 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011

If those wounds were inflicted by a person, that doesn't mean it was her boyfriend who did it. From what I've read, he has no known history of violence, no known motive, and had what others perceived as a healthy relationship with her. As someone said, though, he was found not guilty in court and we must leave it at that now. There is no point in speculating it accusing him. we can only pray God's will be done in all affected by/ involved with this tragety

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e c

1:57 am on Saturday, December 24, 2011

Felicia Tang was a good friend of mine many years ago and I regret that I did not keep in touch with her and make sure that she did not go down the wrong path and be captured in the hands of such a depraved man. Her death still haunts me. She was a beautiful & wonderful person who did not deserve such a death. It's really hard to believe that Randone was not guilty. There is no way that so many injuries could be caused by just an overdose. That's just ridiculous. The jury got it wrong, just like in the O J case. I am just ashamed of the justice system. I am ashamed of the public and the news outlets who judged and labeled her a "porn star" when her career and her life wasn't about that. Rest in Peace Felicia. Radone, you will face correct sentencing on judgement day. To call yourself a Christian is blasphemy in the name of the Lord.

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Christina Galvez

2:10 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Felicia got what was coming due to her lifestyle, sad but true . It is all God's work do not question His plan .

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DC

12:31 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012

I actually went out on a few dates with Brian back in 1990 or so when he lived in Fort Worth. Though he was nice, wanted to make sure I was a Christian before we dated, he gave me the creeps. A few dates was all I needed to say no the next time he asked. I hope he is not guilty, but I have never had someone give me the weird feelings I had around him. God will ultimately take care of whatever need be done.

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Bob Davis

9:18 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012

This situation is very sad. Felicia was a VERY beautiful woman, but unfortunately went down the wrong path. She partied very hard and had a wild side to her. She is unfairly characterized as a "porn star", which is unfortunate. Yes, she was a model, including nude, but she never did any pornography movies. Rest in Peace / it is over. Hopefully he can move on from this tragedy as well.

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Mercury

11:39 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012

We're gonna argue the differences between nude model v. porn performer v. pornstar? All the same once you cross that line. (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

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