Man Gets 29 Years to Life Term for Slaying

A North Hollywood man who shot his father-in-law to death during a rampage was sentenced Tuesday to 29 years to life in prison, the maximum term under state law.

Armik Markarian was convicted by a San Fernando Superior Court jury of second-degree murder for killing Orlando Lazabal during a Sept. 10, 1984, rampage at his home. He also was convicted of attempted murder because during the attack, he aimed a rifle at his mother-in-law’s head and pulled the trigger but the gun was empty at that point.

In 1985, a jury found Markarian guilty of first-degree murder, but the 2nd District Court of Appeal overturned the verdict.

The appellate court ruled that Judge David A. Perez improperly instructed jurors when he told them to presume that Markarian was of sound mind during the rampage, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven D. Ogden. Defense lawyers had argued that Markarian was mentally incapacitated by alcohol at the time of the attack.

Upon hearing the reduced verdict at Markarian’s retrial last month, his ex-wife, Maria, burst into a screaming fury and broke the toe of a bailiff who tried to restrain her.

Markarian was sentenced by San Fernando Superior Court Judge John H. Major.