Jury Reexamines Evidence In Maslamani Trial
Update - 6 p.m.: A Macomb County jury has found an 18-year-old accused of carrying out a crime spree that included the gunpoint abduction and killing of a man guilty on all charges. MORE HERE.
The jury in the Ihab Maslamani murder trial requested another look at some of the evidence presented in the case.
Maslamani is accused in the kidnap and murder last year of 21-year-old Matt Landry of Chesterfield Township.
The case went to the jury late Thursday. Friday morning, the jury asked to see two pieces of surveillance tape, both store surveillance videos.
Defense attorney Joseph Kosmala called no witnesses in the case and admitted to jurors that Maslamani was involved in a Harrison Township bank robbery and attempted carjacking in Roseville. But Kosmala told jurors in closing arguments that the killing of the 21-year old Landry was not Maslamani's doing.
"There is no evidence -- no, not circumstantial, not direct -- no evidence, this man killing anybody," Kosmala said.
Prosecutors accuse Maslamani of kidnapping Landry from a sub shop in Eastpointe and shooting him in a burned out home on Detroit's eastside.
Friday, Kosmala talked with reporters about what his client was like during the proceedings. Kosmala said Maslamani behaved much like a "feral child" -- he would answer questions and participate in his defense, and then turn around and ask Kosmala "How are we doing?" and "Can I have a piece of candy?"
If convicted, Maslamani faces life in prison without the chance for parole.
A second suspect accused in Landry's murder, Robert Taylor, will stand trial later this year.
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