Arraignment Delayed in Killing of Youth

The arraignment of three juveniles accused of killing a Glendale student was postponed Tuesday so defense lawyers can challenge a new state law that calls for the defendants to be tried as adults.

Lawyer Andrew Flier, who is representing 15-year-old Rafael Gevorgyan, said the newly enacted Proposition 21 is unconstitutional because, among other concerns, it denies due process.

“My client has the right to at least have his case considered by a juvenile judge who is concerned with rehabilitation,” Flier said. “Is that too much to ask?” Glendale Municipal Court Commissioner Daniel Calabro agreed to postpone the arraignment until June 13, allowing defense lawyers to file a motion challenging the prosecution of the defendants as adults.

The State Supreme Court, however, rejected a challenge to Proposition 21 earlier this month, though that petition was based on somewhat different grounds.

Gevorgyan, of North Hollywood, and the two other co-defendants, 17-year-old Karen Terteryan of Glendale and 14-year-old Anait Ano Msryan of Los Angeles, will remain in custody.

The three were arrested May 5 after 17-year-old Raul Aguirre was stabbed and clubbed to death in front of Hoover High School. Authorities have said the two, both members of an Armenian American street gang, attacked Raul after he tried to break up a fight the two had picked with an unidentified Latino boy waiting at a bus stop. Msryan, a girl, drove the two to the school. They are also charged with street terrorism because they committed murder as part of criminal gang activity, authorities say.