A man accused of planting a bomb at an Orange County day spa in 2018 that killed his ex-girlfriend will face a brand new trial in October after a federal jury in Los Angeles was unable to achieve a verdict Monday.
Stephen Beal, 63, is accused of making an explosive system that ripped by the Magyar Kozmetika spa in Aliso Viejo in May 2018, killing 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak and injuring two others.
The case in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ended with a mistrial.
A brand new trial is scheduled for Oct. 18, stated Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U.S. legal professional’s workplace for the Central District of California.
“We look forward to seeing him in court,” McEvoy stated.
Beal was arrested by FBI brokers in March 2019 and charged with utilizing a weapon of mass destruction, malicious destruction of a constructing leading to demise, use of a damaging system in against the law of violence and possession of an unregistered damaging system, in keeping with his indictment.
“This is a case about obsession, infatuation and control,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Annamartine Salick stated in her opening assertion, in keeping with City News Service.
When Krajnyak rejected Beal and made no secret of relationship different males, he “channeled his humiliation into hatching a plan to take revenge,” the prosecutor stated.
Federal public defenders representing Beal didn’t reply to The Times’ request for remark.
Craig Harbough, his protection legal professional, advised jurors that the FBI was “desperate to find the person responsible as soon as possible,” in keeping with City News Service. Authorities instantly settled on Beal after he known as police upon listening to in regards to the explosion and submitted to 3 interviews over 12 hours.
Beal “had nothing to hide,” Harbaugh advised jurors, alleging the FBI “disregarded clear evidence of Mr. Beal’s innocence.” According to the protection, he had no motive to hurt Krajnyak.
Beal, of Long Beach, and Krajnyak had dated for about two years, however their relationship collapsed months earlier than the deadly explosion.
The two opened the spa collectively throughout their relationship and determined to stay enterprise companions regardless of the top of their romantic pairing. At the time of the bombing, Beal was nonetheless paying month-to-month hire on the property the place the spa operated, data present.
The surviving victims advised investigators they noticed Krajnyak opening a cardboard field shortly earlier than the explosion, in keeping with an affidavit.
Beal had been an individual of curiosity for the reason that outset of the investigation. A search of his dwelling and automobile turned up two full improvised explosive gadgets, two cardboard tubes, batteries, a nine-volt battery connector, 130 kilos of explosives and precursors, two handguns and a shotgun.
At the time, he advised investigators that he constructed mannequin rockets, courtroom data present.
A day after his arrest, investigators stated they discovered elements of the explosive system, together with a destroyed battery and items of wire. Forensic evaluation confirmed “no meaningful differences” between the bits of wire discovered on the scene and wiring present in a home made explosive system investigators recovered at Beal’s dwelling, authorities stated.
In the times earlier than the explosion, Beal additionally purchased a battery and several other cardboard containers per the fabric utilized in creating and transport the system that exploded within the spa, authorities stated.
Several of Krajnyak’s mates advised investigators that Beal threatened her, and described him as “jealous, controlling and possessive.”
The mates didn’t title Beal however have been in a position to determine him in a photograph, authorities stated.
City News Service contributed to this report.