Trial Delayed In Slaying Of Mental Patient
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) -- The trial for a man accused of killing a fellow patient at a state mental hospital has been postponed until February after the defendant became ill.
Jury selection was to begin Monday in Howard County Circuit Court for the trial of El Soundani El-Wahhabi, also known as Saladin Taylor. He is charged with first- and second-degree murder in the death of Susan Sachs, 45, at Clifton T. Perkins State hospital in Jessup last year.
A spokesman for the Howard County state's attorney's office said Monday prosecutors were told El-Wahhabi, 51, had been taken to a hospital, but the nature of his illness was not disclosed. On Tuesday, a judge rescheduled trial for Feb. 27.
Court documents state video shows El-Wahhabi entering Sach's room not long before their bed check.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
