Crime & Safety

Man's Conviction for Double Murder in Crescenta Valley Upheld

The victims were found stabbed to death on Oct. 11, 2001, at a condominium in the 10100 block of Commerce Avenue.

City News Service

A state appeals court panel today upheld a British national's conviction for murdering two people, including a niece of singer Al Jarreau, at a condominium in Tujunga more than 12 years ago.

The three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal cited "overwhelming evidence" of Neil Graham Revill's guilt, including DNA evidence that put him "right in the middle of the murderous violence."

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Revill was convicted in March 2011 of first-degree murder for the slaying of Kimberly Crayton and of second-degree murder in the death of Arthur Davodian, along with two drug counts. Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, resulting in Revill being sentenced a month later to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Crayton and Davodian were found stabbed to death on Oct. 11, 2001, at a condominium in the 10100 block of Commerce Avenue, where Crayton's 14-month-old baby was discovered crying.

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Crayton was stabbed 19 times; and Davodian, who had been beheaded, was stabbed more than a dozen times.

"Kimberly fought for her life," Deputy District Attorney Keri Modder told jurors during the trial, noting that the 20-year-old woman had defensive wounds that would demonstrate she struggled with her assailant.

Revill's "paranoid mental state," which was caused by methamphetamine use, led him to inaccurately believe that Davodian was setting him up to be killed by someone else, according to Deputy District Attorney Phil Stirling.

One of Revill's trial attorneys countered that his client "did not kill anyone."

"I don't think he committed the crime," defense lawyer Michael M. Crain said shortly after the jury's verdict was announced.


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