Rathbun Takes Stand in His Trial for Murder

Freelance photographer Charles Rathbun took the stand Thursday to defend himself against charges that he raped and killed Hermosa Beach model Linda Sobek during a photo shoot last year.

Rathbun, 39, appeared hesitant and soft-spoken as his attorney, Mark Werksman, talked him through a recollection of his life in Connecticut and Ohio. Twice he was reminded to speak louder into the microphone.

Rathbun is charged with sexually torturing and killing Sobek, 27, a former Los Angeles Raiders cheerleader, while the two were on a photo assignment in November.

His defense claims that Sobek was accidentally asphyxiated after she enticed Rathbun, 39, into having sex while drunk on tequila.

Rathbun, dressed in a neat dark pinstriped suit, said he didn’t know until Nov. 10 that he would be taking out a prototype Lexus sport-utility vehicle to photograph a week later.

He also said under questioning by Werksman that he generally took whatever drivers were available as models for his action shots but said, “It was usually a problem finding somebody.”

During the morning session Thursday, defense witness Dr. David Posey said Sobek could have choked to death while having sex with Rathbun in the back seat of a car.

“The one thing I’m firm and clear about is a hand did not asphyxiate Linda Sobek,” the former Army pathologist said on re-direct examination by Werksman.