Man charged with murdering sister of tennis stars

A man with ties to a street gang was charged with murdering the sister of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams.

Aaron Michael Hammer appeared briefly yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court but Judge John Cheroske postponed his arraignment to September 23 at the request of the defence. He remained held without bail.

Hammer, 24, of Compton, is accused of shooting Yetunde Price, 31, as she sat in a sport utility vehicle early Sunday with a companion, Rolland Wormley, 28. An assault rifle and shell casings were found at the scene.

Authorities initially reported she was shot in the chest, but a coroner’s spokesman said yesterday that an autopsy showed she died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Hammer also was charged with using and possessing a firearm. If convicted of all charges, Hammer would face life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Hammer has ties to a Compton street gang but is not a member, authorities have said without elaboration. He has convictions for forgery and burglary.

Ms Price, a registered nurse who owned a beauty salon, was one of five sisters who spent their early years in Compton, a crime-plagued city south east of Los Angeles. The mother of three also served as a personal assistant to her famous half sisters, who moved to Florida with their parents when they turned pro as teenagers.

Sheriff’s investigators said Ms Price and Mr Wormley got into a dispute with a group of residents in front of a home in an area known for gangs and drugs.

The prosecution did not release any information on a possible motive for the killing. Authorities said they had no indication that Ms Price, who lived about 40 miles away in Corona, was involved with drugs or gangs.

Mr Wormley drove the wounded woman to his relative’s house in neighbouring Long Beach and called emergency services. Ms Price was taken to a Long Beach hospital, where she died.

Mr Wormley’s sister attended Hammer’s court hearing and afterward disputed investigators’ account of the shooting. She said the pair were “just driving through” Compton at the time.

“There was no confrontation,” said Carmelle Wormley.

Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams and stepfather of the victim, also attended the hearing. He left without comment.