2 Men Guilty of Murder and Robberies Face Life Sentences

Two Pacoima men face life in prison without parole after being convicted by a jury Thursday of committing a series of late-night robberies in the San Fernando Valley that led to one man’s death and the shooting of a police officer.

Howard D. Holt, 29, and Claude E. Davis, 28, both ex-convicts, were found guilty of murdering a musician working at a Studio City restaurant during one robbery. They were also found guilty of two counts of attempted murder for shooting at two Los Angeles police officers who responded to a silent alarm during a robbery the night they were captured.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Howard J. Schwab scheduled a Sept. 29 sentencing hearing. Since the jury determined that Holt and Davis were committing a robbery when Vartan Mouradian, 33, was fatally shot at the Grecian Village on Nov. 27, 1991, Schwab by law must impose a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The judge will also probably add a number of consecutive sentences, including two additional life prison terms, for the dozens of other convictions.

“I think justice was served,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Peter Berman. “These men are predators who have no business ever being out on the streets again.”

Davis, who was armed with a rifle during the robberies and who was identified as Mouradian’s killer, was convicted of 49 separate counts. After pleading guilty on the first day of trial to 19 counts, Holt was convicted of 28 other charges.

The robbery spree started Nov. 8, 1991, at the White Horse Inn in Northridge, police said.

The series of “takedown” robberies--so named because the armed robbers entered an establishment and ordered all of the patrons to the floor--also included Reuben’s restaurant in Northridge, Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park, the Burbank Ramada Inn and the Cinnamon Cider Bar in Burbank, police said.

Their crime spree ended Jan. 15, 1992, when the manager of the Grandview Chinese Restaurant in Northridge set off an alarm that brought police to the scene. A shootout followed during which Officer Dennis Hinman was struck in the leg by a bullet fired from Holt’s .44-magnum handgun, police said.

Testifying on his own behalf earlier this week, Holt admitted firing at Hinman and his partner, Officer Willard Howard, saying the police opened fire first.

Holt also tried to convince the jury that Hinman was struck by a bullet fired by a fellow officer.

The jury convicted Holt and Davis of two counts of attempted first-degree murder, as well as four separate assault counts, for firing at the officers.

The five-week trial featured a number of bizarre incidents. At the beginning of jury selection, Holt refused to enter the courtroom and had to be dragged in by bailiffs. When the judge gave him permission to remain in a holding tank during proceedings, he spread human waste around his cell.

Moments before attorneys were to give opening statements, Holt surprised even his own attorney by announcing that he wanted to plead guilty to 19 robbery charges.