Israeli to Stand Trial for Murder Although Witness Recants Story

An Israeli national was ordered Thursday to stand trial for murder, even though an eyewitness changed his story and said he could not identify the man as the killer.

The eyewitness, Dani Goldring, 28, also an Israeli national, had previously said he had known the defendant, Ilan Maya, 30, for five years.

Goldring testified in Van Nuys Municipal Court that Maya was not the man who shot his best friend, Efream Zamir, 33, and then tried to shoot him in Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park on Feb. 5.

Goldring previously told police he had known both men five years and had accompanied Zamir to the park to help mediate a disagreement between the two. But when asked Thursday if Maya was a “total stranger” to him, he said yes.

Under questioning by prosecutor Andrew W. Diamond, Goldring denied that anyone in the United States or in Israel had threatened him or his family if he identified Maya as the gunman.

In ordering Maya to stand trial, Judge Robert Wallerstein said he did not believe Goldring’s claim Thursday that Maya was not the gunman. More believable, he said, was Goldring’s earlier account.

The judge ordered that Maya be arraigned in Van Nuys Superior Court on Sept. 10 on murder and attempted murder charges. He set bond at $100,000.

‘Pressured by Police’

Maya was arrested June 24 at a Geneva, Switzerland, hotel, where he was on his honeymoon. Los Angeles Police Detective Pat Anguiano said Maya, who was arrested carrying about $50,000 cash, told authorities that he was a gambler. Maya’s attorney, James E. Blatt, said his client is in the import-export business.

Goldring insisted Thursday, through a Hebrew interpreter, that he had been pressured by police to wrongly identify Maya as the killer. He claimed that police sweetened the deal by promising to drop what he called a trumped-up drug case against him.

“I wanted to get out,” Goldring said. “I told them the story they wanted to hear.”

In his earlier statement, Goldring said he went to the park to help settle an undisclosed disagreement between Zamir and Maya involving Zamir’s cousin. At the park, the two men argued and then Maya shot Zamir in the upper hip, the statement continued. The bullet severed an artery and Zamir bled to death.

Maya fled, with Goldring in pursuit. Then Maya yelled: “No Dani, leave it, it’s not between you and me,” according to the earlier statement. Maya shot at Goldring, missing him five times, Goldring said earlier.

Goldring identified Maya as the gunman in two lineups, Diamond said. But during an Aug. 10 lineup, Goldring ran out of the room in tears before fingering Maya.

Thursday, Goldring testified that he went to the park with Zamir because Zamir wanted to buy some marijuana. He said he heard a shot and saw Zamir fall. Then, he said, he saw three men running away and when he gave chase, the gunman fired at him. He said he could not see the gunman’s face.

Goldring said he went back to Zamir and waited for the paramedics. He said he learned later that his friend had died.

When first questioned by police about the shooting, he said he and Zamir had gone to the park to buy marijuana.

On Thursday, Goldring said he was arrested March 2 by Los Angeles police for driving under the influence of cocaine. He said he offered to take a urine test to prove he was innocent, but police refused.

Police told him the drug case would be dropped if he told them the whole truth about the shooting, Goldring said. With additional pressure from his family, he agreed.

“I did not want to put the finger on an innocent man,” he said. “I am truly sorry about it.”