Father of accused soldier killer upset with handling of son's case
This article was published July 30, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
PHOTO BY AP / DANNY JOHNSTON
Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad is escorted to a hearing at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Little Rock on Wednesday, July 7.
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LITTLE ROCK — The father of a Memphis man facing the death penalty in a shooting that killed a soldier outside a west Little Rock recruiting station will hold a news conference next week to reveal concerns about the handling of his son's case.
Melvin Bledsoe is the father of Abdulhakim Muhammad, the Muslim convert who has repeatedly acknowledged killing one soldier and wounding another in a June 1, 2009, shooting. Muhammad has called it a "jihadi attack" in response to U.S. military policy.
Bledsoe said in a statement he will speak Monday afternoon in front of the Pulaski County Courthouse about events that have occurred in the last few weeks involving "the State of Arkansas and the Public Defenders Office."
No trial date has been set, though there has been activity in Muhammad's case over the last several months.
A mental health evaluation recently resulted in Muhammad being found fit to stand trial. His attorney, Claiborne Ferguson, had tangled with the Arkansas Public Defender Commission over the state covering certain defense costs for Muhammad, who is indigent. But the Arkansas Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Muhammad's favor and ordered the state to provide the funds despite Muhammad being represented by a private attorney.
Reached by phone Friday afternoon, Bledsoe said he would speak Monday about the mental evaluation and the dispute over funding as well as other, recent developments. He would not divulge them Friday.
"There have been a lot of movements in the last couple weeks," he said. "I want the world to know what's happening over there in Arkansas. I'm not at liberty to discuss it further than that."
Muhammad has been in custody since being arrested soon after the shootings, which killed Pvt. William Long, 23 and injured Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, 18.
Comments on: Father of accused soldier killer upset with handling of son's case
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lazybar says... July 30, 2010 at 2:57 p.m.
i bet he is not near as ready as the victims family is for the trial to start.
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turfclan says... July 30, 2010 at 3:34 p.m.
Who cares what Bledsoe thinks. He doesn't give a damn about the victims or their families.
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RazorbackRN says... July 30, 2010 at 4:21 p.m.
I'll tell you wth is wrong in Arkansas -- wth happened to "if you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you" ? Arkansans are paying for a murderers PRIVATE defense!!! These judges that ruled on this will rot in he!!
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shamelesstrkr_yahoo_com says... July 30, 2010 at 5:23 p.m.
AS far as his being paid by Ark. taxpayers...THINK ABOUT THIS!!! When the sorry SOB KILLED MY MONTHER...his defense attorney was a STATE REPRESENATIVE....) Now considering he killed my mother on Jan 18,1996, went to trial in July 11, 1997 Stuart Vess was his attoney. Vess is being PAID by ARK to uphold laws then he was Paid by ARK to DEF Dennis for a crime in which the STATE was charging him wtf is the problem here can someone tell me how this is constitutional to the family or arkansas taxpayers???? Stuart Vess' Creditial...
North Little Rock City Council, 1983 - 1991
Pulaski County Quorum Court, 1991 - 1992
Arkansas House of Representatives, 1995 - 2001
Arkansas House of Representatives (Chair, Judiciary Committee)
Arkansas House of Representatives (Chair, Legislative Prison Sub-Committee)
Arkansas Ethics Commission, 2007 - 2010
Arkansas Ethics Commission, 2009 (Chair)
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jaymac says... July 30, 2010 at 9:26 p.m.
This should be a military trial-clean and clear. It was an attack on two soldiers simply because they wore the uniform and were performing a function relative to the security of our country. Give him to the military and allow them to try and carry out a sentence if he is found guilty.
This man does not deserve to walk on the same earth as the brave soldiers that defend our nation. Sorry for his father, but his son is scum and deserves to be put down since he has already admitted, with pride, that he did it. Let's not give him any more time in the spotlight.
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