Navy Man Pleads Not Guilty in Deaths

A Navy man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of killing two prostitutes in attacks three hours apart on June 20.

Eric Charles Lockhart, 27, a petty officer assigned to the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, made his plea before Municipal Judge Nicholas Kasimatis.

“In light of the allegations,� the judge ordered Lockhart held without bail.

Lockhart is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of robbery stemming from five separate incidents. There are no robbery charges attached to the killings.

“It’s a capital case, and there’s a potential of filing special circumstances� that could lead to the death penalty, said Deputy Dist. Atty. David Greenberg.

Asked if all the victims were prostitutes, Greenberg said, “It appears that way.�

Freda Woods, 25, and Rosemary Curry, 35, were fatally shot June 20 in East San Diego. A third woman was shot in the leg on May 28 in Logan Heights, several blocks from where Curry was gunned down. Police believe that Lockhart contracted with the women for sex before attacking them.

Greenberg said that a weapon found in Lockhart’s car, a semiautomatic, .380-caliber handgun, links him to the crimes. Kasimatis set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 29.