RESEDA : Motorcyclist Faces 2 Charges of Murder

Prosecutors filed murder charges Tuesday against a Canoga Park motorcyclist who previously had been charged with vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of a Reseda couple killed when their car crashed into a tree.

Martin J. Ruthman, 34, faces up to 31 years to life if convicted of the more serious charges in the March 12 deaths of Mark and Rowena Gold, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Andrew W. Diamond.

The lesser charge carried a maximum of eight years, four months, Diamond said.

Prosecutors say that Ruthman veered in front of the Golds’ Honda Accord after Ruthman and Mark Gold exchanged angry words as both drove east on Victory Boulevard in Reseda.

At a preliminary hearing two weeks ago, witnesses said that Ruthman kicked the car door at least twice, then veered in front of the Honda. Mark Gold, 45, who was driving between 50 and 60 m.p.h., lost control of the car and crashed after Ruthman cut in front of him, according to court testimony.

Ruthman told police he feared Gold’s driving endangered his wife, who was riding a motorcycle nearby and had little experience.

Diamond said that after hearing testimony prosecutors were convinced that there was “enough wanton activity by the defendant to imply the malice needed for a murder prosecution.”

Mitchell W. Egers, Ruthman’s attorney, said he will seek to get the murder charges dismissed at an Oct. 9 hearing in Van Nuys Superior Court.