Man sentenced to life in Michigan stabbing spree
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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AN Israeli immigrant convicted of murder in a 2010 stabbing spree in Michigan, United States, was sentenced to life in prison yesterday, wrapping up the first in a series of cases against Elias Abuelazam.
Michigan offers no parole to people convicted of first-degree murder, which means the 35-year-old will be locked up until he dies, unless he wins an appeal.
The first of 10 possible trials stemming from the stabbing spree centered on the death of Arnold Minor, a 49-year-old handyman who was attacked in the early hours of August 2, 2010, near downtown Flint. The evidence was virtually impossible to overcome: The victim's blood was found in Abuelazam's Chevy Blazer and inside his luggage.
Before the mandatory sentence was announced, Minor's mother, Elzora Minor, collapsed and was carried out of court. She had been standing in front of the judge holding her son's cremated remains, alongside daughter Stephanie Ward, who had a biting farewell for Abuelazam.
"I'm just glad for this day and hope that he rots in hell for the pain he put this city through," Ward told Genesee County Judge Judith Fullerton.
Outside court, Elzora Minor, 68, said she felt overwhelmed and fell when she looked over at Abuelazam and saw him grin.
Defense lawyers said Abuelazam was paranoid schizophrenic and under the spell of demons that forced him to stab and kill. But three experts hired by prosecutors found he wasn't mentally ill or incapable of understanding the criminal acts.
The stabbing spree terrified the working-class city of Flint. Fourteen people were stabbed in the area, and five died, including Minor. Survivors said their assailant claimed to have car trouble or asked for directions before attacking. Most were stabbed in the wee hours. There is no evidence that Abuelazam, who worked the afternoon shift in a party store, knew them.
Abuelazam had lived in Flint for just a few months, staying in a house owned by his uncle. He was captured in Atlanta, Georgia, in August 2010 while trying to flee to Israel. He faces two more murder trials and six attempted murder trials in Michigan as well as an attempted murder case in Toledo, Ohio.
Michigan offers no parole to people convicted of first-degree murder, which means the 35-year-old will be locked up until he dies, unless he wins an appeal.
The first of 10 possible trials stemming from the stabbing spree centered on the death of Arnold Minor, a 49-year-old handyman who was attacked in the early hours of August 2, 2010, near downtown Flint. The evidence was virtually impossible to overcome: The victim's blood was found in Abuelazam's Chevy Blazer and inside his luggage.
Before the mandatory sentence was announced, Minor's mother, Elzora Minor, collapsed and was carried out of court. She had been standing in front of the judge holding her son's cremated remains, alongside daughter Stephanie Ward, who had a biting farewell for Abuelazam.
"I'm just glad for this day and hope that he rots in hell for the pain he put this city through," Ward told Genesee County Judge Judith Fullerton.
Outside court, Elzora Minor, 68, said she felt overwhelmed and fell when she looked over at Abuelazam and saw him grin.
Defense lawyers said Abuelazam was paranoid schizophrenic and under the spell of demons that forced him to stab and kill. But three experts hired by prosecutors found he wasn't mentally ill or incapable of understanding the criminal acts.
The stabbing spree terrified the working-class city of Flint. Fourteen people were stabbed in the area, and five died, including Minor. Survivors said their assailant claimed to have car trouble or asked for directions before attacking. Most were stabbed in the wee hours. There is no evidence that Abuelazam, who worked the afternoon shift in a party store, knew them.
Abuelazam had lived in Flint for just a few months, staying in a house owned by his uncle. He was captured in Atlanta, Georgia, in August 2010 while trying to flee to Israel. He faces two more murder trials and six attempted murder trials in Michigan as well as an attempted murder case in Toledo, Ohio.
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