CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Hostages’ Shooting Shown at Hearing

Videotapes played at a preliminary hearing show that a gunman, who was later slain, shot the three hostages who died in the Good Guys store siege last April. The video and audio tapes also indicate that Loi Khac Nguyen, the surviving gunman charged with 54 felonies, came close to negotiating a deal with sheriff’s deputies. But it was rejected by his three companions, who were all killed in the ensuing shoot-out. The Municipal Court preliminary hearing will determine if Nguyen, 22, will stand trial on three counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 41 counts of kidnaping for ransom. Audio tapes played at the hearing were recorded on the open phone line linking sheriff’s negotiators with the four gunmen during the 8 1/2-hour standoff. More than 100 rounds of ammunition were fired in the gun battle that ended the standoff.