PRISON TO OR PAST AGE 91 ORDERED IN SNIPER CASE.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- An apprentice plumber convicted of murder in a 2002 sniper-style shooting that killed a nightclub manager and wounded three others was sentenced Thursday to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Zamaad ``Gary'' Zomalt was sentenced to prison for 34 years and eight months to life, plus three consecutive life terms, and would be eligible for parole in 58 years -- at age 91.

Family members of slaying victim Marshall Garrison told Zomalt about the terrible pain and loss he caused.

``(His mother) Shari Martin pointed out that not only did he devastate the victim's family and children -- who now don't have a father -- and herself; he destroyed his own family,'' Deputy District Attorney Steve Ipsen said. ``She saw the pain his own mother felt, and his children now don't have a father.''

Ipsen said Zomalt's father and uncle were allowed to make statements to the court over the prosecution's objection.

``They talked of sympathy for the victims' families and their suffering. They were heartfelt, apologetic statements. No remorse was shown by the defendant, who had an opportunity to speak but said nothing,'' Ipsen said.

Zomalt was convicted in his second trial. His first ended in a mistrial in March, with the Los Angeles Superior Court jury deadlocked in favor of acquittal. Zomalt was found guilty last month of first-degree murder after an Antelope Valley jury deliberated less than two days.

A key witness in both trials was Brian Lewis, a former co-worker who said he was with Zomalt at the Schooner's nightclub the night of the shooting.

Lewis testified at the first trial that Zomalt was angry at Schooner's because he thought his estranged wife was having an affair with someone connected with the club. Lewis said he didn't see the shooting, which prosecutors at the first trial said was carried out by another friend. The friend was acquitted after the first trial.

At the second trial, Lewis admitted he lied during the first trial. Lewis said Zomalt shot at the nightclub after he and Zomalt were refused entry and had a heated exchange with club employees. One employee used a racial epithet to Zomalt, Lewis said.

Zomalt's wife testified that Zomalt told her that he ``shot the (expletives)'' and threatened, ``If you are not down with me, I'll kill you and the kids.''

At the second trial, jurors saw a surveillance videotape showing club employees objecting to Lewis' baggy pants and Lewis trying to pull Zomalt away from a confrontation. The tape had not been shown at the first trial.

Lewis also was charged in the slaying, but in March was placed on probation after he pleaded no contest to being an accessory to the shooting and agreed to testify against Zomalt and his co-defendant in the first trial.

The Los Angeles trial had resulted in acquittal of co-defendant Faiz ``Tony'' Munassar. Prosecutors had accusedMunassar, who is from Yemen and is 5 feet 6, of being the gunman. Zomalt is black and stands 6 feet 3.

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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