Los Angeles man's conviction in slaying of two Israelis overturned
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A state appeals court on Tuesday overturned a man's conviction in the 2002 slayings of two Israeli citizens after finding jurors were not properly instructed at the conclusion of his trial.
Benjamin Frandsen was found guilty in November 2005 of two counts of first-degree murder along with a special circumstance of multiple murders.
Two other men were also convicted of killing Ben Wertzberger and Adar Ne'eman, whose bodies were buried in shallow graves in San Bernardino County.
The Second District Court of Appeal panel said Tuesday the trial judge erred by not properly instructing jurors on elements of a special circumstance allegation and not explaining that such a finding requires jurors to conclude Frandsen was the actual killer or acted with the intent to kill.