Murder Suspect Faces Charges Over Threats

A 27-year-old man accused of murder, torture and conspiracy in connection with a brutal Ventura County slaying last year will now face five additional charges of threatening violence against witnesses in the case.

Spencer Brasure, a Hawthorne resident, was served with the new charges Monday during a court hearing to determine how he obtained confidential witness information.

According to prosecutors, Brasure was caught sending letters to friends asking them to kill key witnesses expected to testify against him at a preliminary hearing this month.

A search of Brasure’s cell and the home of a friend revealed a series of letters that included witness addresses, phone numbers and in some cases Social Security numbers--information that under the law is not supposed to be in the hands of criminal defendants.

Prosecutors have suggested in court papers that Brasure’s defense team provided him with the information, an allegation his attorneys deny.

A hearing to find out how Brasure got the information was postponed until later this week.

Two weeks ago, Municipal Judge Roland Purnell issued a temporary order prohibiting Brasure from writing letters or making phone calls from County Jail. That order is still in effect, and prosecutors are seeking a permanent ban on Brasure’s mail and telephone privileges.