Meier Gets 2nd Acquittal; Lesser Charges Still in Place

In the second partial acquittal announced in his case this week, Torran Lee Meier was found not guilty Thursday of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of his mother and of attempting to murder his 8-year-old half brother.

Meier remains charged with the reduced counts of second-degree murder in the strangling of his mother and attempted voluntary manslaughter in the assault on his half brother. In addition, each charge has a corresponding conspiracy charge still pending.

The jury at the Van Nuys Superior Court trial, over which Judge George Xanthos is presiding, has been deliberating more than two weeks. It will resume deliberations today.

On Monday, jurors found the 17-year-old Canoga Park youth not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Shirley A. Rizk, 34, and of attempting to kill his half brother, Rory Rizk.

The two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder--one each for the two victims--were charged separately and would have carried the same penalty as a charge of first-degree murder.

Jurors on Thursday also acquitted Meier of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder in the attack on Rory Rizk.

Meier’s friends and relatives, who have supported him throughout the trial, huddled together and hugged one another in court Thursday after the youth was found not guilty of the most serious charges.

According to testimony, Meier, abetted by two friends, killed his mother in retaliation for a lifetime of abusive behavior toward him. When Rory Rizk witnessed the killing, Meier attempted to feed him a poisoned sandwich and then placed him in a burning car with his mother’s body and pushed the car over a Malibu cliff, prosecutors said.

Rory Rizk escaped without serious injury.

Meier’s two alleged accomplices, Richard A. Parker, 24, of Antelope Valley, and Matthew A. Jay, 18, of Woodland Hills, will be tried later.