WEST HILLS Immunity Granted in Stabbing, Robbery

Prosecutors have granted immunity to a Simi Valley man who is expected to be the key witness against four other men--including his older brother--charged in the attack and stabbing of a West Hills convenience store clerk.

Jason Garcia, 19, on Tuesday was formally granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony, during a short hearing before Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz.

Although he still faces one count of attempted murder in the attack on Amolak Singh Saini, the charges against Garcia will be dropped once there is a resolution in the cases of the other four men, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Linda Acaldo.

Investigators believe that Garcia acted only as the getaway driver when the four other men robbed the 7-Eleven store at 22821 Saticoy St. during the early morning hours of March 24.

If Garcia testifies according to the agreement, he will escape the potential life prison terms faced by the four others--his brother, Carlos Ramon Garcia, 20; Chatsworth resident David Michael Delhanty, 18; Frank Eric Kaatz, 19, of Chatsworth, and 22-year-old Scott Howard Goodman, also of Chatsworth.

Saini, 27, was stabbed 22 times with a pocketknife and had a bottle broken over his head in the parking lot of the store where he had worked for about one month.

Everyone in the case has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and robbery.