Peter Pianezzi with his mother Rose Pianezzi, at a trial where he is charged with the murders of George (Les) Bruneman and Frank A. Greuzard, Los Angeles, 1940s

Item Overview

Title

Peter Pianezzi with his mother Rose Pianezzi, at a trial where he is charged with the murders of George (Les) Bruneman and Frank A. Greuzard, Los Angeles, 1940s

Date Created

February 19, 1940

Date

1940-02-19

Publisher

Los Angeles Daily News

Language

No linguistic content

Collection

Los Angeles Daily News Negatives

Notes

Description

Ex-convict Peter Pianezzi with his mother Rose Pianezzi at a trial where he is charged with two murders. Rose Pianezzi was a witness on his behalf. Allegedly, Pianezzi shot gambler George (Les) Bruneman 16 times in a cafe and then fatally shot cafe employee Frank A. Greuzard when he attempted to take down Pianezzi's license plate number. The murder, which occurred October 25, 1937, is thought to have been gang-related. The first trial ended with a hung jury, 9-3 for the acquittal of Pianezzi. In the second trial, Pianezzi received a life sentence for the murders. Later, at age 80, Pianezzi was pardoned based on innocence.

Caption

Text from original nitrate sleeve: Pianezzi, Peter
Handwritten annotation from nitrate negative: Pete Pianezzi and Mrs. Rose Pianezzi

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Medium

b&w nitrate negative

Keywords

Genre

news photographs
cellulose nitrate film

Names

Pianezzi, Rose
Pianezzi, Peter
Bruneman, George Les (Leslie), 1897-1937

Location

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Resource type

still image

Subjects

Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles
Shootings--California--Los Angeles
Crime
Homicides--California--Los Angeles
Disaster
Witnesses--California--Los Angeles
Mothers
Gangs--California--Los Angeles
Legal