Death Sentence Upheld for Killer of Manhattan Beach Cop

The California Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence Monday of the man convicted of killing Manhattan Beach Police Officer Martin Ganz. 

The court unanimously rejected Roger Hoan Brady's claim that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction in the Dec. 27, 1993, death of 27-year-old Ganz.

The court ruled that the case against Brady contained "overwhelming" evidence, which included multiple eyewitnesses and videotapes that showed a vehicle matching the description of the defendant's car.

Ganz, accompanied by his 13-year-old nephew on a ride-along, had pulled over a car for a traffic violation in the Manhattan Village Mall during a holiday DUI patrol. As Ganz walked toward the car, the driver, Brady, shot the officer once in the chest and face, fatally wounding him.

Brady was on parole at the time for a 1989 bank robbery.

"[Ganz] was a friend to many of us," said Officer Stephanie Martin. "We all knew each other pretty personally. He was a jokester. He loved a good time."

After being convicted in Oregon of murdering a hospital nurse in 1994, Brady was extradited to California two years later. He was sentenced to life in prison for the killing.

In November 1998, Brady was convicted in Torrance Superior Court of first-degree murder. His conviction included the special circumstances of murder of a peace officer, murder for the purpose of avoiding lawful arrest and a prior murder conviction. Brady was formally sentenced to death March 16, 1999.

Ganz was the third Manhattan Beach police officer to die in the line of duty. The two others are commemorated on the city website. Officer Frederick Charlie Grau died Sept. 11, 1952, after he suffered a stroke from a head injury he received during a domestic disturbance investigation. A decade later, Officer Richard Timothy Giles died from injuries he received after he pursued a speeding car and was hit by another vehicle.

Ganz had wanted to become a police officer since high school, according to the city website. After graduating from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy, he began working in May 1988 with the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Ganz was also involved with various children's programs, working on drug abuse prevention and traffic safety.

A fan of country music, Ganz had often rallied friends in the police department for line dancing outings.

"He's still to this day very much missed," Martin said. "It's a reminder that it doesn't matter what town you work for, these things can happen."

Services for Ganz were held in January 1994 at American Martyrs Catholic Church. He was buried in Inglewood Memorial Cemetery.

The Martin Ganz Benefit Trust awards scholarships to youth pursuing higher education. Click here to donate.