FATHER GETS 2 WEEKS TO PLEAD IN ARSON DEATHS\Public defender granted extra time; DA seeks death penalty.

Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer

A Glendale man who police said has admitted setting the fire that killed his wife and six children was told Thursday he has two weeks to decide how to plead to murder and arson charges in Glendale Municipal Court.

Jorjik Avanesian, 40, wearing large bandages to cover burns on his face and hands, appeared nervous and glanced repeatedly at spectators during his first appearance in court.

The District Attorney's Office has filed seven counts of murder against Avanesian with special circumstances that could lead to the death penalty.

Deputy District Attorney Kevin McCormick said the office is seeking the death penalty because the murders were committed in the course of a felony - arson - and because there were multiple deaths.

"It's an extremely tragic crime scene," McCormick said. "It's incomprehensible that someone could do this to his family."

Avanesian's wife, Turan, 37, and their six children - Roobina, 17; Rita, 16; Ronika, 9; Rodric, 8; Romik, 6; and Roland, 4 - all died in the pre-dawn blaze Tuesday, which police said was set after the father doused the apartment with gasoline.

Judge Joseph DeVanon agreed to delay the proceeding until Feb. 21 after an attorney for the Public Defender's Office said he needed more time to review the case.

"We haven't received most of the discovery. We haven't received the police reports," said Deputy Public Defender Casey Lilienfeld.

Lilienfeld said he hopes the defendant will be able to enter a plea Feb. 21.

Jason Mirsaeid, a private investigator with the Nick Harris Detective Bureau in Van Nuys, has said Avanesian told him he spent eight months in jail in Iran for attempting to kill his wife with a bayonet.

On Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials said the family was allowed to immigrate into the United States from Turkey in September despite laws banning criminal immigrations, possibly because the INS doesn't have diplomatic relations with Iran or any system for checking criminal records of former Iranians.

"We have to rely on the applicant's truthfulness," said INS Deputy District Director Rosemary Melville.

Applicants for refugee status have to fill out a sworn affidavit as part of the process, which includes written and oral questions about an applicant's criminal history, Melville said.

Also Thursday, Lilienfeld said officials are investigating reports that Avanesian has been having problems at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.

"Apparently, he had some trouble in county jail," Lilienfeld said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure he is housed in a safe manner. I don't know if his life is in danger, but I want to make sure it's not."

But Sgt. Ron Spear said Avanesian has been on "keep away" status since the moment he was booked into the jail, meaning he has not been placed with other inmates.

Still, in light of Lilienfeld's concerns, Spear said a sheriff's deputy who speaks Farsi would interview the inmate to make certain that no trouble occurred.

McCormick dismissed criticism aimed at the District Attorney's Office for declining to file charges against Avanesian after his arrest on suspicion of child abuse in the fall.

CAPTION(S):

Jorjik Avanesian appears Thursday in Municipal Court with public defender Casey Lilienfeld, left, and interpreter Krikor Tashjian. Phil McCarten/Daily News