Crime & Safety

Lomita Man Pleads Not Guilty to Wife's Murder

David Viens pleaded not guilty today to murdering his wife, who disappeared about 17 months ago.

Weeks after he jumped from an RPV cliff, David Viens pleaded not guilty today to murdering his missing wife.

Viens, 47, was wheeled into a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on a yellow gurney to answer a charge stemming from the disappearance of his wife, Dawn.

Viens owned a Lomita restaurant his wife's body might have been hidden. The search in the finding of Dawn's remains.

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Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Upinder S. Kalra ordered Viens to remain jailed on $1 million bail and to return to court April 28, to set a preliminary hearing date.

Viens to investigators and his girlfriend he killed his wife, who has been missing for about 17 months.

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"He did make statements implicating himself in the murder of Dawn," sheriff's homicide Lt. Dave Coleman said in a previous interview.

Viens near the 31500 block of Palos Verdes Drive West about 9:15 a.m. Feb. 23.

Authorities said they saw Viens and his girlfriend in an altercation near Point Vicente. When police ordered Viens to stop what they believed was an act of domestic violence, Viens released his girlfriend, ran, and jumped off of a nearby cliff, according to sheriff's officials.

Charged March 3 with murder, Viens' court appearance had been delayed by his injuries. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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