Hearing for driver accused of manslaughter is postponed

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

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge agreed to postpone the hearing to April 6 since 28-year-old Edmond Grigoryan’s attorney, Alex Kessel, is handling other criminal matters involving six current and former Bell council members facing charges of misappropriating city funds.

Glendale police also provided copies of Grigoryan’s cell phone records during the hearing.

Grigoryan 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 the criminal complaint.

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 died two days later in a local hospital from his injuries, officials said.

-Veronica Rocha