Afghan refugee stands trial in first of 3 killings that shocked Albuquerque’s Muslim community
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Muslims in New Mexico’s largest city hope more light will be shed on what led to the shooting of three men from their community in the summer of 2022, as prosecutors begin making their case against an Afghan refugee accused in the killings .
Attorneys were expected to make opening statements Tuesday in an Albuquerque court in what will be the first trial of Muhammad Syed, who settled in the U.S. with his family several years ago. He denied involvement in the killings after he was arrested just days after police issued a public plea for help and shared photos of a vehicle believed to be involved in the crimes.
The tips poured in and investigators turned their attention to Syed. Police stopped him in his vehicle in August 2022, more than 100 miles from Albuquerque. He told authorities he was heading to Texas to find a new home for his family and said he was concerned about the ambush-style killings.
Syed, who speaks Pashto and not English, has been in custody without bail since his arrest. He is charged with three counts of murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. Police have also identified him as the suspect in the murder of a fourth Muslim man, but no charges have been filed in that case.
While some court documents remain sealed, others do not shed light on a possible motive, leaving Albuquerque’s Muslim community struggling to understand why the men were targeted.
Prosecutors during previous hearings described Syed as having a history of violence. His public defenders have argued that previous domestic violence allegations never resulted in convictions.
The first trial centers on the death of Aftab Hussein, 41, who was killed on the night of July 26, 2022, after parking his car in his usual spot near his home.
Syed will be tried separately for the deaths of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old urban planner who was shot on August 1 while taking an evening walk, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot four days later while sitting in his car. outside a refugee resettlement office on the city’s south side.
Prosecutors plan to call police officers and other authorities involved in the investigation as witnesses. However, the judge bars testimony about ShotSpotter technology used by police to detect the sound of gunshots.
Prosecutors also cannot directly introduce into evidence statements Syed made to a detective during his interrogation. Defense attorneys argued that Syed’s rights were violated because the detective, through an interpreter, did not adequately inform Syed of his right to a court-appointed attorney.
According to the initial criminal complaint filed by Albuquerque police, investigators determined that shell casings found in Syed’s vehicle matched the caliber of weapons allegedly used in the July 26 and August 1 murders and that the shell casings found at the crime scene casings were connected to each other. for weapons found at Syed’s home and in his vehicle.
Federal authorities pointed to cellphone records in court papers and accused one of Syed’s sons of possibly helping his father track down Naeem Hussain before he was killed. Shaheen Syed was accused of giving a false address when purchasing a gun at a local store in 2021 and reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in January.
In the elder Syed’s case, a murder conviction would carry a maximum prison sentence of life in prison.