Teen Pleads No Contest in Killing

One of half a dozen teenagers accused of a fatal stabbing at a million-dollar home in the Encino hills has pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for an 11-year prison sentence.

Peter Makjdomian, 19, faced 25 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Abtin Tangestanifar, according to Deputy Dist. Atty Laura Rosenthal. He entered his plea Tuesday and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Only one of the original six defendants, Ari Tomasian, continues to fight the charges against him. Two defendants, private-school-educated teens whose parents hired prominent lawyers, were freed during a preliminary hearing after prosecutors acknowledged there was not enough evidence of their involvement to sustain the charges.

Another defendant’s case was handled in Juvenile Court, and another, tried as an adult, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in April.

Tomasian, who authorities say was armed with a knife and was the only one to stab the victim, is scheduled to stand trial later this month.