Jury Receives Case on 4 Accused in Slaying

The fate of four Conejo Valley teenagers accused in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old peer from Agoura Hills now lies in the hands of a jury in Malibu.

On Friday, attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments and the jury received its instructions from Malibu Municipal Court Judge Lawrence J. Mira. Deliberations will not begin until May 20, because one juror has a long-planned family obligation.

The accused are Brandon Hein, 19, of Oak Park; brothers Jason and Micah Holland, 19 and 16, of Thousand Oaks, and Tony Miliotti, 18, of Westlake Village. A fifth teen, Chris Velardo, 18, of Oak Park pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter last fall and is awaiting sentencing.

According to the case outlined by the prosecution, the victim--Jimmy Farris--and his friend Mike McLoren were exercising outside McLoren’s Agoura Hills home the evening of May 22, 1995, when they were confronted by the five youths--then aged 15 to 18--who demanded marijuana from McLoren. McLoren refused and a fight began, police said.

During the fight, McLoren was stabbed several times and Farris twice. McLoren survived, but Farris, the son of a Los Angeles Police Department officer, died a few hours later.

Although only two of the teenagers accused were 18 at the time of Farris’ death, all five are being tried as adults because of the seriousness of the crime.

Defendant Jason Holland took the stand last week, admitting he had stabbed Farris, but saying that he was just defending his younger brother and did not intend to kill Farris.

The trial began in late February and has taken its toll on Farris’ family, who have attended faithfully.

“I’m so glad it’s almost over,” said Judie Farris, the victim’s mother.