Brianna Kupfer’s accused killer tries to hide his face in court as he finally faces trial over stabbing murder
The man accused of brutally murdering UCLA student Brianna Kupfer in a shocking 2022 attack appeared in court Wednesday to learn more about his fate.
Brianna Kupfer, 24, was murdered in January 2022 at the Los Angeles luxury furniture store where she worked by Shawn Laval Smith, now 34.
Smith was seen sitting in a Los Angeles courtroom as prosecutors played the chilling audio recording of the murder, in which Kupfer can be heard desperately pleading for her life as she was stabbed to death.
The murder trial, presided over by Judge Mildred Escobedo, featured dramatic scenes as the Los Angeles County deputy district attorney held up the alleged murder weapon — a knife — and its sheath for the jury to examine.
Photos obtained by Dailymail.com show the suspected killer wearing a striped shirt and a cloth face mask.
Brianna Kupfer was stabbed 26 times in the January 2022 attack
The man accused of brutally murdering UCLA student Brianna Kupfer in a shocking 2022 attack appeared in court Wednesday to learn his fate
The murder trial, presided over by Judge Mildred Escobedo, featured dramatic scenes as the Los Angeles deputy district attorney held up the alleged murder weapon – a knife – and its sheath for the jury to examine.
Smith, sitting next to his attorney, listened to testimony as prosecutors laid out their case against the accused killer.
In an opening statement, the prosecution argued that Smith “preyed on a vulnerable woman who was alone and isolated.
The suspect is said to have made a recording in which he expressed his desire to ‘kill women’.
“Just 18 days before he found and murdered Brianna, the defendant recorded himself talking about the most disgusting, revolting and grotesque thoughts about women,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Habib Balian said in court.
“The defendant, pretending to be a customer, lured her into feeling safe and vulnerable, even going outside and pretending to call his girlfriend,” the prosecutor said. “The evidence we’re going to show you is that they weren’t looking for a bank. It was all a lie.”
Smith was seen sitting in a Los Angeles courtroom as prosecutors played the chilling audio recording of the murder, which showed Kupfer’s desperate pleas for her life as she was stabbed to death.
If found guilty, the defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole (pictured: defense attorney and Shawn Laval Smith)
In an opening statement, the prosecution argued that Smith was “preying on a vulnerable woman who was alone and isolated.” (Pictured: A Los Angeles deputy district attorney holds up a sheath for a knife as Shawn Laval Smith listens to testimony in Los Angeles Superior Court)
Brianna Kupfer, 24, was murdered in January 2022 at the Los Angeles luxury furniture store where she worked by Shawn Laval Smith, now 34
‘Brianna Kupfer, lying on the floor of the Croft House, covered in her own blood, surrounded by blood trails.’
“Her last words, she just tells him, ‘I can help you, I can help you, I can help you,’ and he tells her, ‘It’s over.’ [expletive].
Kupfer, a 24-year-old UCLA student, was working alone at a furniture store in Hancock Park when she was stabbed to death in what police described as a random attack.
She was stabbed to death while working alone at the Croft House store on La Brea, minutes after she texted a friend saying a man in the store made her “feel bad.”
Smith, 31 at the time of the murder, was was tracked down in Pasadena, a day after Los Angeles police named him as the prime suspect in the unprovoked murder case.
Smith, who reportedly has a criminal record that spans two coasts, was out on bail when he allegedly stabbed Kupfer to death.
Photos obtained by dailymail.com show the accused killer wearing a striped shirt and a cloth face mask
Smith, sitting next to his attorney, listened to testimony from witnesses as prosecutors laid out their case against the accused killer
He was handcuffed without incident at a bus stop near Fair Oaks and Colorado Boulevard around 11:50 a.m. It’s not clear whether he was armed.
Smith was arrested about 15 miles from the upscale furniture store where Kupfer was murdered.
A pedestrian alerted police after seeing the wanted man sitting on a park bench.
The accused killer — who police believe is a homeless drifter — initially gave authorities a false name, a source told the outlet, but the LAPD’s fugitive unit was able to confirm his identity with a fingerprint reader.
Smith has previously been arrested and charged with violent crimes in at least three states.
At the time of Kupfer’s murder, he was free on $50,000 bail after allegedly firing a gun into a vehicle he was riding in in Charleston, South Carolina, in November 2019.
Smith, who is awaiting arraignment, is a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet that spans both coasts, and is currently free on $1,000 bail following an October 2020 felony arrest in Los Angeles County, sheriff’s records show.
The Pacific Palisades architectural design student was alone in the Croft House store on La Brea Avenue in L.A.’s upscale Fairfax neighborhood when a man walked in and stabbed her around 1:50 p.m. She was found by a customer 20 minutes later
The charges in that case were filed on March 16, 2020, just before COVID-19 shut down the courts, and the record shows no further action has been taken in the case.
Smith, who is awaiting arraignment, is a career criminal with a lengthy record on both coasts. Sheriff’s records show he is currently free on $1,000 bail after being arrested for a misdemeanor in Los Angeles County in October 2020.
Smith was arrested on October 27, 2020, in Covina, California, and charged with allegedly stealing items from a local Home Depot. He was issued a ticket and released, police said.
He was convicted by San Diego prosecutors in 2017 of carrying a concealed dagger and brandishing a deadly weapon in combat. He was sentenced to three years of probation and a $400 fine, according to court records.
If found guilty, the suspect could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.