Director's Son Charged With Murder

S A N T A   B A R B A R A, Calif., Feb. 27, 2001 -- The arraignment of the son of a television director on charges that he killed four people by running them over with his speeding car has been postponed until next week.

David Attias, an 18-year-old student at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara, was also charged with vehicularmanslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence ofdrugs.

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

Authorities said Attias crashed into several cars beforebarreling into the group at twice the 25 mph speed limit in IslaVista, an unincorporated hamlet near campus. The street is nearUCSB's main party drag and is often packed with students on weekendnights.

Attias' defense attorney was granted the postponement in SantaBarbara Superior Court today. Attias is charged with 13 felonycounts — including four counts of murder and five counts ofdriving while under the influence and causing great bodily injury.

His father, Daniel Attias, was with his wifewhen he made a brief statement outside the courthouse, saying: "Wewant to express just how sad we are."

The younger Attias was in the court today behind a glassenclosure, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit. He talked with hisattorney but made no public comment during the brief courtappearance.

Witnesses said Attias got out of the car and shouted, "I am theangel of death." A resident videotaped dozens of students circlingthe driver and preventing him from leaving the scene.

The Attias family did not answer calls to their Santa Monicahome Monday, and the name of Attias' attorney was not released.

Suspect Known as 'Crazy Dave'

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

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

A friend of Attias told the Times he had spoken withhim by phone over the weekend and the young man had sounded calmbut sad.

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

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

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

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