No Escape From a Murder Conviction

A man who attempted a bold courtroom escape during his trial last week was found guilty Monday of murdering his uncle.

Jurors said in interviews afterward that last week’s failed escape attempt did not influence their decision to find Arash Hariri, 29, guilty of second degree murder in the death of his uncle, Moshen Dehdashti.

Two jurors said they had viewed the escape attempt as doomed to fail.

“I saw him push his chair back, but who would leap from the 11th floor?” said forewoman Sue Kozlowski. “Where was he going to go?”

Hariri’s escape attempt last Monday was thwarted by bailiffs and by his cousin--the son of the man Hariri was accused of murdering.

Although security was beefed up last week, the two bailiffs present Monday in the Orange County Superior courtroom were considered routine, one official said.

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The dispute that ended the 67-year-old uncle’s life began when Hariri arrived at Dehdashti’s Irvine home in July 1996. The uncle and aunt had sent Hariri $1,500 to leave Pakistan, but expected him to attend school in Canada.

Hariri’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Don Rubright, acknowledged that his client shot Dehdashti but said he did not believe Hariri went to the Irvine home with the intent to kill his uncle. He believed it was a case of voluntary manslaughter, or killing in self-defense.

“I really don’t think he went there to kill the guy,” Rubright said. He then added, “But the defendant did some very strange things during this trial.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Claudia Silbar had argued for first-degree murder on the grounds that Hariri had intended to kill his uncle. He had purchased a gun the previous day.

Silbar was not in court Monday because of a prior commitment, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Lloyd, who filled in for Silbar, was pleased with the verdict: “A second-degree verdict on this case is a just verdict.”

Hariri also was found guilty of attempted kidnapping and burglary resulting from incidents after the murder. Hariri faces life in prison for the murder conviction, attorneys said. Judge Cecil Hicks set sentencing for Aug. 29.

Officials said Hariri could still face charges related to carjacking, kidnapping and shooting and wounding two men in another incident in Los Angeles County.