GUILTY NY - Imam Maulana Akonjee, 55, & Thara Uddin, 64, slain, Queens, 13 Aug 2016

[i.b.nora]

Defense Attorney Raises Questions In Slayings Of Queens Imam, Associate
September 1, 2016 1:00 PM
CBS New York

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/09/01/queens-imam-killing-suspect-court/

“The man accused of killing a Queens imam and his associate faced a judge on Thursday as his defense attorney raised questions about the case.

Members of the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque filled the courtroom as Oscar Morel, 35, entered a not guilty plea.

Morel is charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting deaths of Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin.”

*

“But Morel’s defense attorney, Michael Schwed, said his client maintains his innocence and questioned how the gun got into the apartment.

“They say it was found in his house,” he said. “I haven’t seen any proof of that yet.”

*

He said while his client didn’t do it, the person who did had a motive.

“Has nothing to do with religion or hate crimes,” he said. “It has to do somewhat with the mosque itself not particularly liking the imam.”

Mosque members disputed that claim, saying he was well-liked and well respected.”​

 

[bluesneakers]

Defense Attorney Raises Questions In Slayings Of Queens Imam, Associate
September 1, 2016 1:00 PM
CBS New York

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/09/01/queens-imam-killing-suspect-court/

“The man accused of killing a Queens imam and his associate faced a judge on Thursday as his defense attorney raised questions about the case.

Members of the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque filled the courtroom as Oscar Morel, 35, entered a not guilty plea.

Morel is charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting deaths of Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and Thara Uddin.”

*

“But Morel’s defense attorney, Michael Schwed, said his client maintains his innocence and questioned how the gun got into the apartment.

“They say it was found in his house,” he said. “I haven’t seen any proof of that yet.”

*

He said while his client didn’t do it, the person who did had a motive.

“Has nothing to do with religion or hate crimes,” he said. “It has to do somewhat with the mosque itself not particularly liking the imam.”

Mosque members disputed that claim, saying he was well-liked and well respected.”​

So his story is someone from the mosque shot Akonjee and Uddin then planted the gun at his place?

...

 

[i.b.nora]

And to spice it up a bit, The New York Post doesn't disappoint:

Imam ‘killer’ eerily greeted cops who arrested him
The New York Post
September 1, 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/09/01/imam-killer-eerily-greeted-cops-who-arrested-him/

“The man accused of killing Queens Imam Maulama Alauddin Akonjee greeted cops at his door, uttering, “I knew you were coming,” when they arrived to arrest him.

Prosecutors detailed Oscar Morel’s eerie salutation Thursday during his arraignment in Queens Supreme Court.”

*

“Outside the courthouse, Schwed (the Defense attorey) indicated plans to hire a private investigator– to prove cops “may have planted evidence” on his client, in order to cover up “firing their guns improperly.”

Morel is scheduled to return to court Oct. 18.”​

 

[JerseyGirl]

The man accused of fatally shooting a Queens imam and his assistant in broad daylight in 2016 is expected to go on trial as soon as Tuesday (today).

https://www.wsj.com/articles/brookl...ms-fatal-shooting-is-set-for-trial-1520283832

 

[OkieGranny]

https://nypost.com/2018/03/06/lawyer-for-accused-imam-killer-claims-cops-planted-murder-weapon/

The attorney for a man on trial for the murder of a Queens Imam and his assistant brashly told jurors Tuesday that police planted the murder weapon in the suspect’s home causing the judge to order the wild accusation struck from the record.

And that was just opening statements...

The judge instructed jurors to disregard the lawyer’s remark.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Brooklyn resident Oscar Morel has been convicted of killing Ozone Park Imam Maulana Akonjee and his associate, Thara Uddin, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Friday.

Morel, 37, was convicted of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when sentenced on April 18.

http://www.qchron.com/editions/broo...cle_92767244-2ebe-11e8-9fd8-b34d89780a5e.html

 

[Harmony 2]

A man who gunned down a Queens Imam and his aide was sentenced Wednesday to life without parole.

Oscar Morel, who was convicted for the August 2016 double murder, was handed the life sentence by Judge Gregory Lasak who called the killings a “cold-blooded assassination.”

https://nypost.com/2018/06/06/man-gets-life-in-prison-for-killing-imam-in-broad-daylight/