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Van Nuys Men Sentenced In So-Called Texting Murder Case

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — Two Van Nuys men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on Friday for their roles in the 2009 execution-style slaying of a Granada Hills man.

Zarek Manjikian, the convicted gunman in the killing of Gombert "Mike" Yepremyan, was sentenced to 50 years-to-life imprisonment.

Co-defendant Vahagn Jurian received a 25 years-to-life sentence. He was convicted of driving the getaway car. Both defendants are 25 years old.

Police said Yepremyan was shot to death after he sent a text message to the sister of one of the suspects. The text had used a derogatory word to describe the woman.

Two other defendants received jail sentences of nearly one year each.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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