Woman pleads not guilty in Beverly Hills stabbing

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. (AP) - A woman has pleaded not guilty in the fatal Beverly Hills stabbing of her former boyfriend, who was the son of a movie producer.

Chie (chee) Coggins Johnson entered her plea Friday. Her current boyfriend, Scott Barker, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

Prosecutors say Barker and Johnson stabbed Katsutoshi Tony Takazato to death Monday night after Coggins Johnson claimed Takazato had physically abused her.

Takazato’s father, Fuminori Hayashida, produced several movies in the 1990s, including “Lured Innocence” starring Dennis Hopper.

Takazato was found dead outside his father’s home Tuesday in Beverly Hills’ upscale Trousdale Estates area.

Coggins Johnson and Barker remained jailed on $3 million bail each.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ A couple charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a movie producer’s son are scheduled to make their first court appearance Friday in Beverly Hills.

Scott Joseph Barker, 23, and Chie Alexandra Coggins Johnson, 20, were charged Thursday with killing Katsutoshi Takazato, whose body was found Tuesday outside his father’s home in a normally tranquil and exclusive neighborhood where murders are uncommon.

Takazato’s father, Fuminori Hayashida, produced several movies in the 1990s, including “Lured Innocence” starring Dennis Hopper. Hayashida lives in Japan.

Takazato had until recently dated Coggins Johnson, who then started dating Barker. She told her new boyfriend that Takazato had physically abused her, prompting Barker to become enraged and stab Takazato, prosecutors said.

Barker’s attorney, Brad Brunon, declined to comment about the relationship between the victim and both suspects. The facts about the case were not yet clear, he said.

An after-hours phone message left with Coggins Johnson’s attorney, Bruce Ellman, was not immediately returned.

It was not immediately clear how Coggins Johnson might have been involved and police would not release details.

The couple faces life in prison if convicted. They remained jailed on $3 million bail each, and are scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

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