Venice man convicted in LAX officer's killing

Nov. 17, 2009 | Jason Kandel | KPCC

A Venice man has been convicted of the 2005 carjacking and murder of a Los Angeles International Airport police officer.

William Sadowski, 51, was convicted of the first-degree murder of Thomas Scott, the first airport police officer killed in the line of duty.

CA/Local News

Jurors, who deliberated for less than two days, found true the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed in the course of a carjacking and found not true the special circumstance allegation that a peace officer was intentionally killed while engaged in the performance of his duties.

Sadowski also was convicted of two counts of carjacking and one count of attempted carjacking. Jurors found true the allegation that the defendant personally used of a deadly and dangerous weapon, a police vehicle, and found not true the allegation that the murder was willful, deliberate and premeditated.

Sadowski killed Scott on April 29, 2005, following a confrontation and struggle with the victim, prosecutors said. During the struggle, Sadowski got control of the officer’s vehicle and drove off, dragging Scott. The defendant crashed the patrol car, killing the officer.

Following the car crash, Sadowski unsuccessfully attempted to carjack a woman and, ultimately, carjacked a third vehicle. The defendant also crashed that car and was subsequently arrested.

The sanity phase of the trial would begin today.

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