Afghan refugee stands trial in first of three killings that shocked Albuquerque’s Muslim group

ALBUQUERQUE: Concern coursed by way of the Muslim group in New Mexico’s largest metropolis over a number of days in the summertime of 2022 as authorities scrambled to find out if race or faith may need been behind the ambush-style killings of three males from the group. It was not lengthy earlier than the investigation shifted away from doable hate crimes to what prosecutors on Tuesday described because the “willful and very deliberate” actions of one other member of the Muslim group – Muhammad Syed, an Afghan refugee. Prosecutors delivered opening statements in what’s the first trial for Syed, 53, who settled within the U.S. a number of years in the past along with his household. Syed, who speaks Pashto and no English, has remained in custody with out bond since his arrest. He’s charged with three counts of homicide and 4 fees of tampering with proof. Police even have recognized him because the suspect within the killing of a fourth Muslim man, however no fees have been filed in that case. Syed faces separate trials for every sufferer, the primary being 41-year-old Aftab Hussein. The opposite trials will occur over the course of the approaching months. Syed denied involvement within the killings after being detained simply days after police put out a public plea for assist with the unsolved killings that had rocked Albuquerque’s Muslim group. Authorities had shared pictures of a car believed to be concerned within the crimes, leading to suggestions that led to Syed. Police stopped him in his car in August 2022 greater than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Albuquerque. He instructed authorities he was on his approach to Texas to discover a new dwelling for his household, saying he was involved in regards to the killings in Albuquerque. Prosecutors painted an image for jurors of the night time Hussein was killed, saying it was round 10 p.m. when he pulled as much as his condominium advanced and parked. Hussein had simply stepped out of his automotive, nonetheless holding his keys in his hand, when gunfire erupted and he was struck a number of occasions. Deputy District Lawyer David Waymire confirmed jurors the rifle he mentioned Syed used, telling them it was discovered throughout a subsequent search of his dwelling. He additionally instructed jurors that forensic examination decided that casings discovered on the scene had been fired from that weapon. Cellphone information indicated that Syed was on the scene earlier than and in the course of the capturing and that Syed had saved a word in his cellphone – 12 minutes earlier than the capturing – that talked about killing Hussein, Waymire mentioned. “The evidence will show this was a willful and very deliberate killing,” he mentioned. “And the evidence will show Muhammad Syed is guilty.” Whereas some courtroom paperwork stay sealed, others shed no mild on a doable motive, leaving the group struggling to grasp why Hussein and the opposite males have been focused. Prosecutors provided no additional perception throughout their opening statements and did not focus on any interactions that Syed may need had with the sufferer. Protection lawyer Thomas Clark instructed jurors that prosecutors haven’t any proof that Syed was the one who pulled the set off and that there have been others residing in his dwelling who additionally had entry to the rifle, his automotive and his cellphone. Clark mentioned the forensic proof that can be offered by prosecutors doesn’t embrace any fingerprints or DNA that may implicate his shopper. “I ask you during the course of this trial to pay very close attention to what you hear and pay an equal amount of attention to what you don’t hear,” Clark mentioned. “A determination can’t be based on speculation or conjecture.” Prosecutors throughout earlier courtroom hearings described Syed as having a violent historical past. His public defenders have argued that earlier allegations of home violence by no means resulted in convictions. Syed is also accused of killing Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old city planner who was gunned down Aug. 1 whereas taking his night stroll, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot 4 days later as he sat in his car outdoors a refugee resettlement company on town’s south aspect. The choose is prohibiting prosecutors from immediately introducing as proof statements Syed made to a detective whereas being questioned. Protection attorneys argued that Syed’s rights have been violated as a result of the detective, by way of an interpreter, didn’t adequately inform Syed of his proper to a court-appointed lawyer. Law enforcement officials and detectives testified Tuesday about arriving on the scene after Hussein had been killed. They discovered him mendacity subsequent to his automotive with a number of gunshot wounds – from his ear and neck all the way down to his legs with exit wounds in his ft. Prosecutors confirmed pictures of Hussein’s bullet-riddled automotive and mentioned the sufferer was killed practically immediately. In addition they mentioned that one of many projectiles recovered from his physique and casings discovered on the scene had been fired from the rifle seized from Syed’s dwelling.

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