Attempted Murder Charges Filed in Clerk’s Stabbing

VAN NUYS — The district attorney’s office filed attempted murder and robbery charges Friday against five men accused of committing a robbery at a West Hills convenience store that left a clerk near death with almost two dozen stab wounds.

The five men, four of whom are in custody, could face life imprisonment if convicted of all charges stemming from the March 24 attack on Amolak Singh Saini, 27.

Saini was recovering from at a San Fernando Valley hospital after being stabbed 22 times in the upper body with a foot-long knife, authorities said Friday.

The four suspects in custody-- Jason Garcia, 19, and Carlos Ramon Garcia, 20, both of Simi Valley, and David Michael Delahanty, 18, and Frank Kaatz, 19, both of Chatsworth--appeared in court Friday afternoon, but their arraignments were delayed until May 12.

Police are still searching for the fifth suspect, Scott Howard Goodman, 22, of Chatsworth.

Saini fled his native India less than a year ago to escape sectarian violence and received a work permit only a month before he was stabbed.

Los Angeles Police Department Detective Larry Dolly said three of the defendants made statements implicating themselves.

The men had been drinking heavily on the night of the incident and were angry after being thrown out of a party, Dolly said.

Police said the robbers made off with two cash registers--but apparently very little money--and cigarettes, wine and beer.

“It’s a stupid, stupid, vicious attack that didn’t help them achieve the robbery,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert L. Cohen.