Livaditis Pleads Guilty to 3 Deaths in Van Cleef Siege

Steven Livaditis, the Brooklyn-born drifter who last year staged a bloody 13 1/2-hour siege at an exclusive Beverly Hills jewelry store, unexpectedly pleaded guilty today to three counts of first-degree murder.

Livaditis, 23, admitted guilt in the deaths of two hostages killed inside the Van Cleef & Arpels store on Rodeo Drive last June 23 and also to the murder of store manager Hugh Skinner, who was mistakenly slain by a sheriff’s marksman.

Livaditis, who also pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery, one of burglary and three of kidnaping, rescinded his earlier not-guilty plea today during the second week of jury selection for his trial.

He also pleaded guilty to two special circumstance allegations--multiple murders and murder during a burglary--that warrant a possible death penalty under California law.

The jury that is being impaneled in Santa Monica Superior Court will hear his penalty trial and decide whether to recommend that he be sent to the gas chamber.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ronald H. Carroll expressed pleasure with the plea, saying: “I think it makes perfect sense considering the overwhelming evidence we had against (Livaditis).”

During a one-day preliminary hearing last August, the two survivors of the ordeal described how Livaditis took five employees of the Rodeo Drive store hostage after his robbery attempt was foiled by the quick arrival of police.

Security guard William Richard Smith, 54, and saleswoman Ann Heilperin, 40, were killed after they upset the gunman, witnesses said. After shooting them, Livaditis tried to flee the store with the three surviving hostages but was captured by police.

During the escape attempt, Skinner, 60, was killed by a sheriff’s sharpshooter who had been erroneously informed that the gunman was the only white man in the group. Saleswoman Carol Lambert and Livaditis himself were injured when police lobbed concussion grenades to divert the gunman.