Hearing postponed for man accused of killing doctor

A preliminary hearing for a 28-year-old Glendale man accused of hitting and killing a 61-year-old prominent Glendale doctor with his car was postponed in court Wednesday.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge moved the hearing to March 3 after the defendant, Edmond Grigoryan, retained a new attorney, Alex Kessel.

Grigoryan, who also goes by Vardan Hakobyan, was charged with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter for allegedly driving under the influence of a controlled substance and hitting Jacob Orphali as he was walking on Oct. 12 to a patient’s home for a house call, according to a criminal complaint.

Orphali had just parked on the 1100 block of Western Avenue and had his driver’s side door open as he exited, police said.

Grigoryan was traveling north when, for unknown reasons, he drifted into the parking lane and struck Orphali while the doctor was standing next to his car, police said.

Police evaluated Grigoryan and arrested him on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He was later released from jail after posting a $100,000 bond.

Orphali was taken to a local hospital, where he remained for a little more than two days before he died of injuries, officials said.