Testifying at "thrill murder" trial

International News Photos (New York, N.Y.) · March 4, 1954

Prosecutor joseph l. Carr (left) and marine Sgt. Marion l. piper, 21, examine a shotgun which played an important part in today's testimony at the murder trial of john Richard Jensen in Los Angeles. piper said that Jensen gave him a lift in his auto. the marine said that while riding he was shot in the back with a rifle (shown) that Jensen had rigged in the rear of the car. piper also claimed that Jensen shot him again and left him for dead but he managed to walk a mile for help before collapsing. Jensen is on trial for the murderous assault of the marine. the state also claims that Jensen is guilty of two "thrill slayings"-- the murder of a playmate when Jensen was 14, and the murder of 16-year-old roger Lawson last September. the motives for both murders, authorities claim, was to "get a thrill."