Man gets life for torching homeless man

LOS ANGELES Ben Matthew Martin, 31, pleaded guilty March 29 to one count each of first degree murder, torture, and arson causing great bodily injury in the death of John Robert McGraham in October 2008.

Martin three a bucket of gasoline on McGraham and lit an emergency flare. The-55-year-old victim was immediately engulfed in flames.

Martin worked at a barbershop near the crime scene at 3rd Street and Vermont Avenue. A barbershop customer saw him attacking the homeless man months before the murder. Martin was fired afterwards and it is believed that he killed the homeless man as revenge.

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