LITTLE ROCK — A judge has ruled the man accused of shooting a soldier to death and wounding another outside a Little Rock military recruiting station can't fire his attorneys or represent himself.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Herb Wright on Monday denied Abdulhakim Muhammad's request to dismiss his attorneys. He said Muhammad's trial, set to start July 18, has already been delayed enough.
Defense attorney Patrick Benca says he didn't expect the judge to grant the request. Benca also says he expects the trial to go forward as scheduled.
Muhammad is charged with capital murder in the June 2009 shooting death of Pvt. William Long of Conway and attempted capital murder in the wounding of Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville. He has told The Associated Press the shooting was revenge for American killings of Muslims.
Long and Ezeagwula were shot as they stood outside the Army-Navy Career Center in west Little Rock.
Comments (2)
Add commentQuestion
Why hasn't this been referred to as a hate crime? After all, the only reason he killed them is because they belonged to a particular group (U.S. military). I see no difference in his motivation than I do someone burning a mosque.
Hate Crimes
In the real world, crimes are only referred to as hate crimes when it serves a political agenda.