Man Convicted of Murdering Estranged Wife
A San Marino man was convicted of murdering his estranged wife by shooting her five times as she sat in her car in Huntington Beach.
Hratch Baliozian, 52, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the Oct. 10, 1997, killing of Dr. Jeanine Chalabian-Baliozian. The jury rejected the defense argument that the shooting was a voluntary manslaughter.
Baliozian could face 35 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 19, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Tanizaki said.
The couple had separated, and the woman was living with her parents in Huntington Beach. Baliozian was living in the couple’s home in San Marino, the prosecutor said.
Baliozian, who surrendered to San Marino police shortly after the shooting and confessed to the killing, did not testify, Tanizaki said.
The jury deliberated less than an hour Wednesday and returned a verdict about noon Thursday, the prosecutor said.
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