Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Man Indicted in Four Slayings

The prosecution announced Wednesday that it will seek the death penalty against a man indicted last year on charges that he murdered four people, including an 8-year-old girl and her parents.

Alberd Tersargsyan, 65, is charged with the Dec. 11, 2008, murders of Khachik Safaryan and his daughter, Lusine; the March 11, 2010, sniper-style shooting of Julie Kates; and the March 26, 2010, slaying of Safaryan's wife, Karine Hokobyan.

The indictment includes the special circumstance allegations that the four victims were murdered by means of lying in wait, that Lusine Safaryan was a witness to a crime who was intentionally killed for the purpose of preventing her testimony in a criminal proceeding and multiple murders.

Safaryan and his daughter were found dead in the 1200 block of Tamarind Avenue in Hollywood by the couple's then-12-year-old daughter when she came home from school. That girl also later found her mother's body slumped in the driver's seat of her Honda SUV in the 5800 block of Lexington Avenue and was taken into protective custody.

Authorities believe Tersargsyan shot Kates, a female acquaintance, to death on Sunset Boulevard.

He was initially charged in April 2010 with Hakobyan's murder, with prosecutors adding the three additional murders in August 2010.

During today's hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli refused to allow Tersargsyan to act as his own attorney because the defendant refused to complete a written waiver involving his right to legal counsel.

Tersargsyan remains jailed without bail. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing July 9.