Laurie Myles’ Accused Killers See Evidence

VAN NUYS —  More than two years after the crime, authorities presented evidence for the first time Tuesday against the men accused of killing Laurie Myles in front of her 9-year-old son.

Etienne Michael Moore and LaCedrick Johnson, both 21, sat quietly through the first day of a preliminary hearing in San Fernando Municipal Court that should take at least three weeks. Prosecutors said they will decide whether to seek the death penalty at the end of the hearing.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to three murder charges, two of which allegedly were tied to a series of violent follow-home robberies the pair are accused of committing during a crime spree in the West Valley from June to November of 1993.

The Myles killing outraged the community. Myles, 37, of North Hills was shot in the heart by one of two men who demanded money. She gave up her purse and a briefcase, but authorities said she was shot anyway.

Myles had been waiting in her car in the driveway of a home on Louise Avenue in Northridge to pick up her teenage daughter after a Bible study class.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Janice L. Maurizi said the Myles boy will not be asked to testify. The boy’s statement to police will be enough for the preliminary proceedings, she said.

“He’s a child and we’re not going to put him through this,” she said.

Moore and Johnson, both of Canoga Park, also face murder charges in the death of Bahman Taheri, 53, of Encino, who was shot to death while in his car during an apparent robbery attempt about two weeks before Myles was killed.

A third defendant, Shashonee Monette Solomon, 32, faces a murder charge for allegedly asking Moore and Johnson to kill Solomon’s former girlfriend.

Authorities describe the case as bizarre and complicated. The defendants were not arrested until last April--18 months after Myles’ death.

“It’s just a very complex case,” said Maurizi.

In the Taheri killing, the victim was sitting in his car talking to his girlfriend outside his apartment one night when a gun-toting stranger smashed the passenger window. There was an argument and Taheri was shot in the head, authorities said.

The other killing, in which Solomon also faces charges, involves the death of Talin Kara Tarkhanian, 20, of Reseda, who was found shot to death in her car in Chatsworth a little more than one month after Myles was killed.

Authorities allege that Solomon was upset with Tarkhanian, who had broken off their relationship. Solomon was in Sacramento when Tarkhanian was killed, but authorities allege he asked Moore and Johnson to kill her.

The hearing is expected to include testimony from acquaintances of the defendants, law enforcement officials and witnesses to the crimes.

The first day of testimony Tuesday was limited to Moore’s girlfriend, Jacqueline Sanchez, who described their relationship.

James E. Blatt, the lawyer representing Moore, said outside the courtroom that he felt strongly that Moore did not commit the slayings. Blatt predicted that evidence will be insufficient to require Moore to stand trial for the Myles and Taheri killings. Blatt said he also expects Moore to beat the final charge.

“We are confident that once the evidence is presented to a court or a jury, that we will prevail,” Blatt said.

Maurizi said she was confident her case was strong.

“I wouldn’t file a case unless I thought we could prove it without a reasonable doubt,” she said.

In a related matter, authorities said robbery conspiracy charges were filed in juvenile court Tuesday against Moore’s brother, Deonta, who was also a suspect in the crime spree. Deonta Moore, who is 18 but was a juvenile at the time of the crimes, is to be arraigned in Sylmar today, authorities said.