Trial of Alleged Trousdale Estates Killer Underway

The trial of Scott Joseph Barker, who is charged in the of 21-year-old Katsutoshi Tony Takazato in Beverly Hills, began Thursday at the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

A courthouse representative confirmed the trial is underway.

Barker was Alexandra Coggins Johnson of murdering Takazato. Barker, then 23, and Johnson, then 20, both had pleaded not guilty in July 2010.

Johnson was eventually prosecuted under the theory of aiding and abetting, and later to assault with a deadly weapon. In September 2011, she was sentenced to and a year already served in county jail.

Takazato was found dead at about 6 a.m. July 20, 2010, outside his father's home on the 1800 block of Carla Ridge in the exclusive Trousdale Estates neighborhood. The criminal complaint alleges Barker used a knife during the commission of the crime. Los Angeles County Coroner Ed Winter described the murder scene as "."

Johnson had dated the victim until shortly before his death, when she began dating Barker, who allegedly became enraged when he learned that Johnson may have been physically abused by Takazato.

Takazato is the son of filmmaker Fuminori Hayashida, who produced several movies in the 1990s and 2000s, including Lured Innocence starring Dennis Hopper, and No Strings Attached starring Christian Slater and Jared Leto.

Barker faces up to life in prison if convicted, according to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office.

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