SIMI VALLEY : Immunity Granted Witness in Stabbing

Prosecutors have granted immunity to a Simi Valley man who is expected to be the key witness against four other men--including his older brother--charged in the attack and stabbing of a West Hills convenience store clerk.

Jason Garcia, 19, on Tuesday was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony during a short hearing before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz.

Investigators believe that Garcia acted only as the getaway driver when the four other men robbed the 7-Eleven store at 22821 Saticoy St. on March 24.

“My office determined that he was the least culpable . . . he stayed in the car at the wheel,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Linda Acaldo said.

If Garcia testifies according to the agreement, he will escape the potential life prison terms faced by the four others--his brother, Carlos Ramon Garcia, 20, of Simi Valley; and Chatsworth residents David Michael Delhanty, 18, Frank Eric Kaatz, 19, and Scott Howard Goodman, 22.

Amolak Singh Saini, 27, was stabbed 22 times with a pocketknife and had a bottle broken over his head in the parking lot of the store where he had worked for about a month.

The robbers grabbed two cash registers--one of which was empty--beer and cigarettes, police said.

Everyone in the case has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and robbery. While Jason Garcia was released from County Jail on Wednesday on his own recognizance, the four others are being held in lieu of bails ranging from $1 million to $2 million.

A preliminary hearing, where Jason Garcia will first testify against his brother and the three others, is scheduled for July 20 in Van Nuys Municipal Court.