Man who shot ex-wife to death and tried to kill her boyfriend is sentenced

A Tarzana man was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years and four months in state prison for fatally shooting his ex-wife and trying to kill her boyfriend.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Brandolino sentenced Hrant Meguerian, 60, for convictions of voluntary manslaughter and second-degree attempted murder.

During the sentencing, which was attended by Meguerian’s adult son and daughter, Brandolino said called the case “tragic.”

Deputy L.A. County District Attorney Rena Durrant said the case was difficult for Meguerian family members.

“Their mother is deceased and their father will be going to jail for a significantly long time,” Durrant said.

She said the sentence “serves the interest of justice, brings closure to the family for the pain he caused to the family and the acts he committed.”

Thomas McLarnon, Meguerian’s attorney, said during sentencing that his client accepted the sentence and did not want to put his family through any more suffering.

“This was not an easy case for anybody,” McLarnon said. “Not an easy case for the family, not an easy case for the victims and not an easy case for Mr. Meguerian.”

Last December, Meguerian shot his ex-wife, Azniv Meguerian, and her boyfriend, Michael Carver, after a dinner dispute in the Tarzana home they all shared, according to court documents.

The Meguerians had been divorced for 17 years, but Hrant Meguerian had recently returned to live at the home. Azniv Meguerian had been in an on-and-off relationship with Carver, who was living in the house as payment for money she owed him, Durrant said.

After a verbal dispute with Meguerian at the dinner table, Carver left the eating area and eventually went to Azniv Meguerian’s room to eat, court documents said.

While Azniv Meguerian was taking food to Carver, Hrant Meguerian, pulled out a gun and shot his ex-wife three times. He then shot Carver, according to court documents.

Both victims were alive when police arrived, but Azniv Meguerian was pronounced dead later that night.

During the sentencing, the Meguerians’ daughter, Lucin, who had difficulty speaking during her statement as tears rolled down her face, said she still did not understand why her father had killed her mother.

“It would help us a lot for my father to tell us what happened that night,” she said.

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james.barragan@latimes.com