BRIEFLY : MAN SLAIN DURING FIGHT WITH GIRLFRIEND'S EX.

VAN NUYS - A man who allegedly tried to pick a fight with his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend ended up dead Monday, police said.

The ex-boyfriend and alleged assailant, Rony Folgar, 36, was in jail Tuesday on suspicion of murder in the 8:40 p.m. killing of Mario Rene Marroquin, 33, of Los Angeles, said Los Angeles police Detective Dan O'Hanian.

``There's a real self-defense issue, so it's going to be the (district attorney's) call'' on whether a murder charge is filed, O'Hanian said.

The detective said Marroquin went over to Folgar's Hazeltine Avenue apartment in Van Nuys at 8:30 p.m. to confront him about ``things that had been said and done'' during Folgar's brief relationship with Marroquin's ex-wife.

Lorena and Mario Marroquin were divorced, but still together, living under the same roof, O'Hanian said.

Folgar told police that Mario Marroquin came after him with an object the detective declined to identify, so he went into his bedroom, got a .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun from under his bed and shot his attacker in the chest.

?13- Daily News

Charges in 2 killings dismissed against 6

Murder charges were dismissed Tuesday against six men arrested in the December shootout at a Glendale clothing store, but prosecutors were expected to refile charges.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Victor Person dismissed charges against Hovhanes Takvoryan, 23; Karen Takvoryan, 22; Hovik Fiterz, 36, of North Hollywood; Khoren Broutian, 32, of Hollywood; Gagik Kazarian, 44, of Glendale; and Mger Tagvoryan, 23, of North Hollywood.

Prosecutors contended they were responsible for the deaths of Edmon Tokatlyan, 19, and Artur Atyan, 23, who were killed in a Dec. 17 shootout at the Mirage Clothing Store in Glendale.

Authorities claim Atyan and seven accomplices went to the store that night to extort money from the owner. The judge dismissed the case, citing procedural problems during a preliminary hearing.

?13- Daily News

Judge orders freeze on embezzler's funds

A federal judge agreed Tuesday to freeze the bank accounts of a Santa Fe Springs executive who admitted to embezzling between $85 million and $95 million from his employer, officials said.

Under the court order, Yasuyoshi Kato and his estranged wife are barred from using money in their bank and investment accounts, and they are prevented from selling their homes, cars and other property.

The U.S. Attorney's Office requested the temporary restraining order to protect potential victims including banks that loaned money to Kato, said prosecutor Faith Devine.

Kato's employer, Day-Lee Foods Inc., filed a civil lawsuit against the 39-year-old several weeks ago and gained a state court judge's order barring the couple from liquidating their assets.

No criminal charges have been filed against Kato and his wife, officials said.

?13- Daily News

Partially skinned dog dies at vet's office

A pet pug found partly skinned with its throat cut died Tuesday during emergency care, a veterinarian said.

The 3-year-old dog named Pal was in shock after being brought to a Northridge veterinarian, said humane officer Barbara Fabricant.

The entire back and left side of Pal were skinned to the abdomen, including the left hind leg, said veterinarian Melvin Richkind.

The dog was brought in by Carol Johnson, daughter of the dog's owner. She said she found the dog under a bush.

``It's so sad,'' Johnson said. ``Who would do this?''

Johnson doubted the dog had angered someone. She said it never barked and stayed in the yard or in her mother's house.

Fabricant said the dog was attacked in its own yard in the 16000 block of Morrison Street in Encino.

``What we need is a witness to come forward,'' she said.