William Satele

Background

William Satele was 20 years old. He was in jail for possession of an illegal assault rifle when investigators linked the weapon to killings of a young couple.

Daniel Nunez was 22 years old. Both men were allegedly affiliated with a Wilmington gang.

The victims were Renesha Fuller, 21, and Edward Robinson, 22. Authorities said the victims had no criminal background or gang affiliations. They were not robbed, and none of their past relationships yielded any motive. Fuller and Robinson had been dating about five months, their families said. Fuller lived with her mother and stepfather, an Inglewood police officer, in Los Angeles. Fuller was about to start a new job, her family said. Robinson worked with his father as a mason.

The offence

Authorities said the victims were shot while saying good night outside the boyfriend’s Harbor City condominium. Police believed that Fuller and Robinson had been shot several times at close range.

About 11:30 p.m. on the day they were killed, Robinson was standing at Fuller's car as she started the engine. He had spent most of the day together at Robinson's condo on Frampton Avenue, near Pacific Coast Highway. As he bent down to speak with Fuller, or perhaps kiss her good night, someone walked up from behind, police believe, and shot four rounds. The bullets passed through Robinson and killed Fuller, police said.

Investigation

Los Angeles Police Det. Bob Dinlocker said two men were charged with murder in the 1998 slaying.

Dinlocker said investigators linked the illegal assault rifle to the killings using ballistics tests. The firearm was a Norinko assault rifle banned under state law. The firearm was found during a traffic stop in the Wilmington area.

Dinlocker said:

"We don't know if these guys were driving around looking for enemies, looking for rival gang members and just got bored and shot the couple."

Investigators used ballistics tests to match the Norinko assault rifle with spent casings from the scene of the slaying. Authorities believed the suspects did not know their victims.

Arrest

Nunez and Satele were arrested on suspicion of possessing the assault rifle within 28 hours of the Oct. 29 killings of Renesha Fuller and Edward Robinson. Authorities said the arrest happened after a traffic stop in the Wilmington area where the firearm was found.

After the arrests, Nunez and Satele were in County Jail awaiting trial on the possession charge.

Trial

Each man was charged with two counts of murder. Authorities said they could face the death penalty if convicted of the double homicide.

Sentencing

William Satele was sentenced to death on September 14, 2000.

Outcome

Two men were charged with murder in the 1998 slaying of Renesha Fuller and Edward Robinson.

Other details

William Tupua Satele home last updates contact

Bertha Robinson, Robinson’s sister, said Robinson and Fuller spent most of the day together at Robinson's condo on Frampton Avenue, near Pacific Coast Highway.