PACOIMA : 2 to Stand Trial in Slaying, Robberies

Two Pacoima men were ordered Monday to stand trial on murder and robbery charges in connection with a string of robberies of San Fernando Valley restaurants, including one in which a musician was killed.

Howard D. Holt, 28, and Claude E. Davis, 28, are scheduled to be arraigned in Van Nuys Superior Court on June 22 on a total of 53 counts, including robbery, attempted robbery, attempted murder, assault and murder with the special circumstance that it was committed during a robbery, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carole Anne Chizever said.

If the men are convicted of murder with the special circumstance, the prosecutor could seek the death penalty.

The two men, both paroled felons, are accused of killing Vartan Mouradian, 33, a musician at the Grecian Village restaurant in Studio City, on Nov. 27. Davis allegedly shot Mouradian as he stood over the musician because he would not turn over a ring quickly enough.

Holt and Davis were arrested in January after they attempted to rob the Grandview Chinese Restaurant in Northridge and got into a gunfight with police, authorities said. A police officer and Holt were wounded.