DHAHRAN, 9 May — Dressed in a drab green prison coverall, accused Saudi national Naif Al Yousef appeared in a Denver County Courtroom with his attorney Gary Luzow and an interpreter at his side to face the evidence presented in a preliminary hearing on the kidnap and murder of Saudi student Abdulaziz Al Koohaji.
In a telephone interview with Arab News, the Denver District Attorney’s office stated that Detective Gene Guigli, an investigating officer on the case, testified to the details of Al Yousef’s involvement in the crimes.
Stepping off a bus in Denver after returning from New Mexico, Al Yousef was initially arrested for forgery. But he spoke with Guigli for 1 1/2 hours describing in detail how he with two other Saudis kidnapped and killed Al Koohaji.
It was Al Yousef who then impersonated Al Koohaji, selling the student’s car, cashing a check in his name and withdrawing $19,900 from his bank account.
Detective Guigli testified that Al Yousef claimed that while he was in the house where Al Koohaji was murdered that he did not strangle him.
Al Yousef said that he had been drugged against his will by the other two Saudis and that he was afraid to resist them, fearing that they would kill him also. He did participate in the disposal of the body.
Guigli stated that Al Yousef was able to understand all the questions put to him during the deposition and that Guigli could understand the defendant whose English was clear but accented.
After the testimony of the key witnesses the judge determined that there was enough evidence to bind Al Yousef over for trial on charges of 1st degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The case was remanded to the Denver District Court.
At an arraignment on June 18, Al-Yousef will enter a plea.
