Two court cases, one involving a murder charge, the other involving a manslaughter charge, were in court Wednesday.
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Three men, who were teenagers when they were first charged with murder in October 2011, had their case continued until April 10, according to officials with the District Attorney’s Office
So did Nshan Sogomonyan, 29, of Encino, who’s due back in court April 25, regarding a fatal boating crash in 2012.
Dubbed “the Halloween Trio,” Diamonte Jerome McGhee, 20, Branden Trevaughn Higgis, 19, and Eric Michael Edwards, 19, were all under 18 when they allegedly shot and killed Alex Sanchez and wounded Ricardo Sandoval during a robbery.
McGhee produced a handgun and shot Sanchez in the chest and when Sandoval attempted to run away, McGhee shot him in the leg, according to a criminal complaint.
All three defendants are facing five felony counts of murder, attempted murder, murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit a crime and second degree robbery.
The three are due back in court April 10, when they will have 30 days to set a trial date, unless one of the parties asks for a continuance and the other side agrees.
Edwards has been in custody since April 30, 2012, for the crime, Higgs has been in custody since Aug. 27, 2012, and McGhee has been in custody since Jan. 27, 2012.
Related article: Murder, Street Racing Charges Continued Again In Court
All three are being charged as adults, and being held without bail in Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.
Their case, which is being prosecuted by Brad Lieberman, has been continued multiple times.
Related article: Teens Charged In 2011 Halloween Murder Have Case Continued
Sogomonyan was arrested April 23, and has had his case in the Newhall court continued at least five times since.
Special Problem’s Team Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments Parks Bureau presented evidence that led to two charges for Sogomonyan: reckless and negligent operation, and manslaughter during the operation of a vessel, both misdemeanors.
It was the culmination of a nearly yearlong investigation into the collision on Pyramid Lake on July 1, 2012, that resulted in the death of a 16 year old male.
Serob Nagapetyan and 16-year-old Harut Emmanuel Shabazyan were riding together on a Wave Runner jet ski in the no wake zone in front of Sogomonyan, who was in a jet drive Sterling Boat.
When the personal watercraft exited the no wake zone, they accelerated rapidly but completely lost power after about 10 seconds.
Nagapetyan turned to see how close Sogomonyan’s was and immediately was struck by his boat.
The 16 year old died as a result of the collision and Nagapetyan was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he remained for 40 days recovering from his injuries.
Sogomonyan was arrested at his home in Encino and booked at the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center. He was subsequently released on a $25,000.00 bond.
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