West Hollywood, California (January 14, 2010) - Vitaliy Krasnoperov, 24, of West Hollywood faced his accusers on the first day of a preliminary trial in which a judge will determine if enough evidence exists to try him and his two alleged co-conspirators in a May 21, 2007 attack that left two dead and one severely injured. 
Vitaliy Krasnoperov, 24, of West Hollywood. Photo by OC Register. WeHo News. |
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Krasnoperov conspired with Iftekhar Murtaza, 25, of Van Nuys and Charles Anthony Murphy Jr., 25, of Mission Hills to kill Jayprakash Dhanak, 56, and Karishma Dhanak, 20, the father and sister of Mr. Murtaza's former girlfriend, Shayona Dhanak.
Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court in Fullerton, the family’s mother Leela Dhanak described how she was severely beaten but survived the attack.
it was she who pointed at Mr. Murtaza as the man who slit her throat that day, leaving her in the home.
The attackers allegedly then burned the family’s house down and started another fire to hide the other family members’ bodies on a nearby bike path.
The Hindu family disapproved of their daughter’s nearly three-year relationship with Mr. Murtaza, a practicing Muslim, leaving him angry with the Dhanaks for interfering with his relationship, according to prosecutors.
Mr. Murtaza is said to have wanted to marry Ms. Dhanak.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Krasnoperov conspired to kill his friend’s girlfriend’s family. Photo by WeHo News. |
Howard Gundy, the prosecutor, alleges that Mr. Murtaza conspired with Mr. Krasnoperov to kill the Dhanak family. Two months later, Murphy joined the conspiracy, Mr. Gundy alleges.
Mr. Krasnoperov grew to know Mr. Murtaza by working at his side. They worked together at a loan company Mr. Murtaza had opened in Van Nuys, Pacific Wholesale Lending Inc. (See theses links for the original reporting on the affair) WeHo Man Charged In Anaheim Murders and WeHo Man’s Arraignment Delayed
The hearing is expected to continue for several more days.
The three defendants have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.If convicted of all charges and special circumstances, they could get the death penalty or life sentences without the possibility of parole.
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