> Self-styled preacher denies murdering Singaporean porn actress

PASADENA (California) – A self-proclaimed preacher who was a contestant in the TV beauty pageant The Sexiest Bachelor in America pleaded not guilty yesterday to murdering his Singaporean girlfriend, a former adult-movie actress.

Brian Randone, 45, was arraigned and remained in custody on US$2 million ($2.82 million) bail. He could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted of beating and choking Ms Felicia Lee on Sept 11 in their suburban Monrovia apartment.

Detectives allege Randone tortured the 31-year-old Ms Lee, noting they found dozens of recent injuries on her body after Randone called emergency rescue to report she was unconscious.

Deputy District Attorney Philip Wojdak said investigators believe Ms Lee was suffocated against a hard surface without a weapon being used. Judge Terry Smerling called the injuries gruesome and sealed photos of Ms Lee’s body.

Randone’s lawyer, Mark Overland, said he had no comment because he had just taken the case and had not reviewed the police reports.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct 9.

Ms Lee appeared in several adult movies under the name Felicia Tang. The Singapore-born woman also had bit parts in the movies Rush Hour 2 and The Fast and the Furious and had modelled for the Playboy television channel. She had moved in with Randone a few months before her death.

Randone appeared on the Fox special The Sexiest Bachelor in America in 2000 but did not win.

Randone has a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and a master’s of divinity degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

He was involved in ministry as a mime and had once worked as a mime on the campus of Baylor University. Baylor spokeswoman Jill Scoggins said he was not hired by the school and only performed