Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Aug 23 2007

Former fugitive pleads in North Hollywood murder

BY JASON KANDEL Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 08/23/2007 11:08:38 AM PDT

NORTH HOLLYWOOD – A 32-year-old fugitive who was brought to the
United States from his native Armenia to face charges in a 2000
murder has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for a lighter
sentence.

Akop Akopyan, 32, was charged with the September 2000 murder of
Garnik Madoyan but took the prosecution’s offer of a plea bargain
just as a jury was being picked this week in Van Nuys Superior Court.

He was facing 50 years to life in prison, but now will face 21 years
when he is expected to be sentenced Sept. 26. He will likely serve up
to 15 years with credit for time that he’s already served, said his
attorney Jim Blatt. He also faces deportation.

Akopyan had been arguing with Madoyan, whom he knew, before shooting
him several times and then fleeing in a Jeep driven by someone else.
Blatt said the victim was also armed, that the two men had a
long-running beef, and it was a case of self defense.

"It developed into a personal confrontation and eventually resulted
in a homicide, unfortunately," said Akopyan’s lawyer Jim Blatt.

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Paul Nunez did not return a call
seeking comment.

In 2001 Akopyan, a reputed member of the Armenian Power Street gang,
with a tattoo of "My Crazy Life," was listed among the San Fernando
Valley’s 10 most wanted killers. Authorities tracked Akopyan to his
native Armenia where he was arrested in 2005.