Livaditis Delays Plea in Jewelry Shop Siege

A heavily bandaged Steven Livaditis was arraigned Monday in Beverly Hills Municipal Court on charges stemming from the bloody, 13 1/2-hour siege that left three dead at the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry store on ritzy Rodeo Drive last Monday.

However, the 22-year-old drifter postponed entering a plea before Judge Charles D. Boags to the 15 felony counts--three of murder, three of kidnaping, five of false imprisonment and four of robbery.

Livaditis will return to court July 8 with his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Demby, who was engaged in trial in Santa Monica on Monday. Another deputy public defender, Richard Millard, filled in for Demby as Deputy Dist. Atty. Dona Bracke read the charges to a subdued Livaditis.

The former Las Vegas resident made for an eerie sight during his brief court appearance due to the extensive injuries he suffered when sheriff’s deputies tossed concussion grenades to foil his attempted late-night escape with three hostages outside the swank jewelry shop.

Swathed in Bandages

Livaditis’ chin and portions of his head were swathed in thick bandages. His blue jail jump suit was open at one shoulder, to allow the burns and other wounds to heal.

Livaditis was taken to County Jail from the jail ward of County-USC Medical Center during the weekend, Millard said. But he remains “in a lot of physical discomfort,” the attorney added.

Livaditis, who appeared lucid, spoke only when addressed by Boags and Bracke concerning his decision to delay entering a plea.

He is charged with the murders of store security guard William Richard Smith and saleswoman Ann Heilperin, who were killed execution-style inside the store, and shop manager Hugh Skinner, who was accidentally killed by a sheriff’s sharpshooter during Livaditis’ escape attempt.

The district attorney’s office will determine whether to seek the death penalty following a preliminary hearing, which is likely to take about four hours and include testimony from one of the two surviving hostages, Bracke said.

Livaditis is accused of having taken the hostages after police arrived at the jewelry store in the midst of a robbery attempt.