3 Plead Not Guilty in Insurance Murder Plot

By City News Service

Two brothers and a third man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from the death of a Glendale resident who was murdered in a plot for an insurance policy payout.

Hachik "Kriss" Maskovian, 28, his 34-year-old brother, Hovanes "John" Maskovian, and Nazaret "Nick" Bayamdzhyan, 19, are charged in the April 24 killing of Joshua West.

The 33-year-old victim was lured to a location in Sun Valley, where he was beaten, run over by a car and shot before his body was dumped in the 10200 block of Penrose Street, according to Deputy District Attorney Geoffrey Lewin. The location is near La Tuna Canyon Road as it spills out into the San Fernando Valley. 

Hachik Maskovian was the first to be charged April 30 in connection with the killing. His older brother and Bayamdzhyan were charged July 29.

Hovanes Maskovian had been in a long-term relationship with West and the two lived together for some time before breaking up, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Shortly after the breakup, the two brothers and Bayamdzhyan allegedly planned West's murder to collect on an insurance policy.

The three are charged with one count each of murder and attempted kidnapping, with special circumstance allegations of murder while lying in wait, murder for financial gain and murder during an attempted kidnapping. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against the three.

The criminal complaint also alleges that Hachik Maskovian shot West.

The three are due back in San Fernando Superior Court Oct. 29 to get a date for a hearing that will determine if they have to stand trial.