With the light wind rustling through the trees of Glendale's Grand View Memorial Park, friends and relatives of Vanik Voskanyan took turns throwing a handful of dirt and a white rose on the coffin of their loved one, who was stabbed to death in Beverly Hills last month. About it reports The Los Angeles Times.
40-year-old Oskanyan was killed on the evening of August 30. Conory Lavantara, 19, the suspect in the murder, was charged this month and has pleaded not guilty.
According to the neighbor, Lavantara, in a moment of anger, attacked a man who was clearing garbage in the alley. He and other residents of the neighborhood described the victim as someone like a homeless person, and this description quickly spread in the press, which greatly upset those who knew Voskanyan.
"Vanik was not homeless," said his old friend, Levon Grigoryan.
The latter clarified that Vanik lived in Glendale with his mother and brother, was an intellectual person, liked to read books and understood politics and sports well. "He was a son, brother, relative, friend, and many people loved and remembered him," he said.
Armen Hakobyan said that his nephew Oskanyan was a kind, responsive and soft-hearted person, and the family members were shocked when the police called and informed about the murder.
"I hope justice will prevail," Hakobyan said, "because [the suspect] took the life of an innocent person."
Voskanyan was born in Yerevan and moved to Glendale in 2009, Hakobyan said. Voskanyan acquired the profession of a dentist in Armenia, and later worked in America in various fields, particularly in construction, jewelry, and as a dental technician.
Grigoryan said that Oskanyan had a difficult life and many problems, but his friends and family loved him very much. He added that he does not know why his friend was in Beverly Hills on the night of the attack and is shocked by this senseless act of violence.
Lavantara, for his part, stated that he used the knife for self-defense. He also received injuries during the fight and was taken to the hospital.
On September 2, he was charged with murder, and bail was set at $2 million.
At the September 3 hearing, Lavantara's lawyer, Debra White, stated that after the verbal argument turned into a fight, Oskanyan grabbed her client by the neck. The lawyer noted that his client took out the knife only when Oskanyan refused to let him go.
Judge Keith Schwartz stated that Lavantara did not need to get into a fight with Voskanyan at all, noting that he "stabbed him several times".
Lavantara posted bail and was released from custody on September 4. He must appear in court on November 5, where the preliminary hearing date will be set.
