Hung Jury in Krasnoperov Double-Murder Trial

SANTA ANA—After two days of deliberations, an Orange County jury could not reach a verdict Tuesday, declaring a mistrial in the case of 25-year-old Vitaliy Krasnoperov, a West Hollywood man accused of helping kill his friend's girlfriend and her father. 

Krasnoperov is charged with "aiding and abetting" the May 21, 2007 slayings of Jayprakash Dhanak and his 20-year-old daughter Karishma Dhanak, and the attempted murder of Leela Dhanak, Jayprakash's wife and Karishma's mother, reported City News Service. 

The victims were beaten and stabbed. Firefighters found their bodies near a bike trail at Mason Regional Park in Irvine, said Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy. 

Co-defendants Iftekhar Murtaza, 26, of Van Nuys, and Charles Anthony Murphy Jr., 26, of Mission Hills, are scheduled to be tried separately, at a later date.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Murtaza, who allegedly blamed the three victims for making his girlfriend Shayona Dhanak break up with him over religious differences, according to Gundy. Murtaza is Muslim and Shayona Dhanak is Hindu.

Despite being absent that day, bedridden after breaking his arm in a motorcycle accident, prosecutors sought to connect Krasnoperov to the murders based on evidence of online chats between him and Murtaza in March and April 2007 in which they discussed ways to kill the victims.

"The biggest point I wanted to make with the jury is Mr. Krasnoperov in his 20 odd years, according to the people who know him, is a peaceful person, non-violent, so why would he seriously decide to help murder innocent people when there's nothing in it for him, and the only possible motivation is a friend's upset," Krasnoperov's attorney Brent Romney said.

Krasnoperov faces two counts of murder with special circumstances of committing it during a burglary and kidnapping, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and a sentencing enhancement allegation of multiple murders.

Gundy is seeking to have Krasnoperov tried with Murphy. A motion to rejoin the two defendants will be heard June 3. A new trial date has been set for June 13.

City News Service contributed to this story.