Man Faces Trial in Killing of Relative

A judge ordered an Armenian immigrant to stand trial Thursday on charges of murdering his brother-in-law, extorting life insurance proceeds from his sister and burglarizing the couple’s candy factory. But special charges that carry a potential death sentence were thrown out.

Van Nuys Municipal Judge Robert L. Swasey ruled there was sufficient evidence to try Harutian Truzian in Superior Court.

Swasey scheduled a Dec. 2 arraignment.

The order concluded a preliminary hearing for Truzian, who is accused of shooting Zaven Baregamian on Feb. 16, 1992, in his North Hollywood chocolate factory.

Authorities say Truzian, 40, is linked to the murder scene by a cigarette butt, a unique bullet and keys he allegedly stole from the victim.

Los Angeles Police Detective Philip Morritt testified Thursday that a single, partially smoked Saratoga cigarette was found at the murder scene. Manoush Truzian, the victim’s wife, testified that her brother lived with her for most of 1992 and he smoked Saratogas at the time.

To counter this evidence, Deputy Public Defender Michael Duffey told the judge that this brand of cigarette is popular in the Armenian community and pointed out that the prosecution’s star witness testified that Truzian smoked a different brand.

The bullets used to kill Baregamian were .25-caliber rounds with aluminum jackets. An extortion letter sent to the widow contained an identical bullet. Testimony at the hearing indicated Truzian admitted to committing the extortion, and prosecutors believe this “signature” bullet links him to the slaying.

Additionally, Deputy Dist. Atty. Peter Berman argued that at least one of the keys that Truzian and an accomplice allegedly used to burglarize the candy company in March were stolen from Baregamian when he was killed. However, Manoush Truzian testified that her brother had had his own set of keys to the factory for months after her husband was shot.

“The people have really not presented any competent evidence to link the defendant to the case,” Duffey said. “It’s a pretty tenuous circumstantial evidence case.”

Truzian is being held in County Jail without bail.