Husband Of Woman Stabbed in Century City Pleads Not Guilty
The estranged husband of a woman who was stabbed to death in a Century City parking garage in July pleaded not guilty today to murder and conspiracy charges.
James M. Fayed, 45, of Moorpark, and one of his employees, Jose Luis Moya, 47, are both charged in connection with the July 28 slaying of Pamela Fayed, 44. They pleaded not guilty to the murder and conspiracy charges today, and Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Henry J. Hall ordered the pair back to court Nov. 6 to have a date set for a preliminary hearing.
Fayed's attorney, Mark Werksman, has said his client "absolutely denies that he had anything to do with the murder," calling the case "a double tragedy."
Prosecutors had no comment after today's arraignment. Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, said last month, "We have a very solid case here."
Fayed and Moya are both being held at Los Angeles County Jail without bail.
In the criminal complaint, prosecutors contend that Fayed paid Moya about $25,000 between Jan. 1 and July 28 "to arrange the murder of Pamela Fayed."
The complaint also alleges that a Suzuki sport utility vehicle was rented by James Fayed and his company, Goldfinger Inc., on July 3, and that the SUV was driven 25 days later to the Watt Tower parking garage in Century City, where Pamela Fayed was killed by a person who then "entered Fayed's rented Suzuki sport utility vehicle."
The criminal complaint filed by the District Attorney's Office on Sept. 15 alleges that the SUV seen at the murder scene was driven by "persons" to James Fayed's ranch in Ventura County, and returned the following day by Moya to the rental car company.
Fayed's attorney said "the mere fact of Mr. Fayed's company renting a car for use by its employees in and of itself does not bear on Mr. Fayed's guilt or innocence with regard to the murder of Mrs. Fayed."
The murder charges against the men include the special circumstance allegations that Fayed's estranged wife was killed by means of lying in wait and was murdered for financial gain. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
A possible motive for the killing may have been to prevent Fayed's wife from testifying against him in a criminal case related to his business, an operation the prosecutor described as a Ponzi scheme in which individuals invested up to $20 million.
Fayed and his wife jointly owned Camarillo-based Goldfinger Coin and Bullion Sales and an associated Internet firm, E-Bullion.
A month before she was killed, Pamela Fayed offered to help federal prosecutors in the criminal probe into the business, officials said.
The couple was engaged in divorce proceedings at the time of the killing, and federal prosecutors noted in court documents that James Fayed was expected to be ordered to pay about $1 million in spousal support and attorneys' fees on July 29 -- the day after his wife was killed.
The couple had a 9-year-old daughter, and Pamela Fayed had an 18-year- old daughter from a previous marriage.
Moya was arrested Sept. 11 and has remained jailed since then. A federal charge against James Fayed relating to his gold-trading business was dropped when the murder and conspiracy charges were filed.
After coming under suspicion, Fayed allegedly tried to have Moya killed to prevent his employee from testifying against him, according to the Los Angeles Times article, citing an unidentified law enforcement source. That allegation is not part of the criminal complaint.
Source: http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7605085&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1 |
