Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher is expected to testify in the trial of Michael Gargiulo, accused killing three women and attempting to kill a fourth between 2001 and 2008.

A gunman was killed early today and a six-year-old boy he snatched from the pavement was shot in the leg during a two-hour stand-off with police.

Power starved Californians face an 80% rise in the price of electricity as the state struggles to meet demand.