U.S.

Director's Son Charged With Murder

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 24, 2001 / 5:23 PM EST / CBS

Arraignment was delayed a week for a Hollywood director's son charged with four counts of murder for allegedly running down several pedestrians with his car over the weekend.

David Attias, an 18-year-old student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was also charged Monday with 13 felony counts -- including four counts of murder and five counts of driving while under the influence and causing great bodily injury.

His arraignment was originally scheduled for Tuesday.

Attias, who was held without bail, is the son of Daniel Attias, who has directed episodes of Ally McBeal, The Practice and The Sopranos. He refused a breath test after the crash Friday, police said, and the results of drug and alcohol tests were pending.

The elder Attias was with his wife when he made a brief statement outside the courthouse, saying: "We want to express just how sad we are."

A sheriff's department photo of David Attias

The younger Attias was in the court today behind a glass enclosure -- dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit. He talked with his attorney but made no public comment during the brief court appearance.

Authorities said Attias crashed into several cars before barreling into the group at twice the 25 mph speed limit in Isla Vista, an unincorporated hamlet near campus. The street is near UCSB's main party drag and is often packed with students on weekend nights.

"He jumped out of the car and he appeared to be all right," student Heather Vaniman told the CBS News Early Show, adding she told other people in the area he was the driver.

"They did a good job of keeping him in the area," said Vaniman.

Other witnesses said Attias got out of the car and shouted, "I am the angel of death." One resident videotaped dozens of students circling the driver and preventing him from leaving the scene.

Samantha Harmon re-lights candles at the site where her roommate, Ruth Dasha Golda Levy, and three other people were killed

Classmates and neighbors in the building where Attias lived said he was known as "Crazy Dave" for his erratic behavior. They said he would barge ino rooms, follow people into elevators for companionship and invite himself into dining groups at the cafeteria.

"He was always fidgeting. He looked like he was kind of whacked-out," neighbor Zack Chancer told the Los Angeles Times.

A friend of Attias told the Times he had spoken with him by phone over the weekend and the young man had sounded calm but sad.

"He said, 'There's been an accident. Four people are dead," said Richard Ramsey of Compton, who said Attias had called him from jail.

On Monday night, hundreds of people, many of them holding candles, returned to the street, standing in a light rain for a quiet memorial service.

Killed in the crash were Nicholas Bourdakis and Christopher Divis, both 20 and UCSB students; Ruth Dasha Golda Levy, 20, a Santa Barbara City College student; and Elie Israel, 27.

Levy's older brother, Albert Levy, also 27, was in critical condition Monday.