Posted on 08/31/2006 8:08:56 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The man accused of speeding through the streets of Fremont and San Francisco killing one man and injuring 19 others did not make his scheduled court appearance Thursday because he remains in the psychiatric ward at San Francisco General Hospital.
Omeed Aziz Popal, 29, whose arraignment was scheduled for 9 a.m. at the San Francisco Superior Court Thursday, is accused of driving his SUV into 54-year-old Stephen J. Wilson of Fremont, killing him, and then driving into San Francisco and hitting as many as 14 to 19 people.
The number of victims and criminal charges continues to change in the investigation, NBC11's Traci Grant reported.
SLIDESHOWS: Aerial Images From SF | Ground Images From SF | Ground Images From Fremont | Police Investigate SUV
According to police, the latest number of people injured during Tuesday's hit-and-run rampage throughout San Francisco is 19. It was originally reported nine people were injured. That number increased to 14 Wednesday.
The new injury total of 19 includes a police officer who was hurt during Popal's arrest.
"When the officer went to take the suspect into custody, the suspect threw his car into reverse and smashed one of the police cars. The officer suffered injuries as a result of that," San Francisco Fire Department spokesman Neville Gittens said.
Gittens said that number of injuries reported could increase as inspectors continue to investigate reports from people who said they were also hurt on Tuesday but went to hospitals and doctors on their own.
Popal is facing dozens of serious charges in San Francisco, including assault with a deadly weapon, a felony count of battery on a peace officer causing injury and a felony count of reckless evasion from police. Fremont police said they plan to recommend a charge of murder.
If convicted on all charges, Popal could face life in prison, according to the district attorney's office.
Relatives of Popal arrived in court Thursday for his arraignment, but after he didn't show, they shielded their faces and walked somberly out of the courtroom, Grant reported.
"These crimes evidence a blatant disregard for human life and caused terror on our city's streets," San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris said in a statement issued Wednesday evening.
Harris praised the San Francisco Police Department for apprehending Popal.
"He is now facing life in prison for the suffering he has caused," Harris said.
Wilson was struck by a car and killed south of Ferry Lane on Fremont Boulevard in Fremont about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday.
One of the victims told NBC11 News she was injured in more than one way, "Physically, I'm in a lot of pain. Mentally, I'm scared to go outside," said Vera Jenkins DeFrantz.
Popal's family said he has been under a lot of stress since returning from Afghanistan for an arranged marriage.
In court, a deputy district attorney told the judge that after he was arrested, Popal told police that he "wanted to kill a police officer but he didn't see any" and that he had "thought about killing people since the day before. "
"What's important in this case is we must do a thorough investigation into all the circumstances leading up to what happened, and as I said, state of mind will be a major issue in this case," said public defender Jeff Adachi.
Adachi said Popal has asked for a court-appointed attorney because they can't afford to retain Majeed Samara, the attorney who has represented Popal for the last few days.
Piss be upon him.
Pork piss that is.
Sounds like an islam state of mind to me.
L
Do we have a picture of the arranged bride-to-be?
Huh? They can defy the courts?
I guess ROP lawyers do not work pro bono if there is no chance of a big cash payout from the state.
"Islamofascist" descriptor would have been useful in either case.
This is true, but God help you if you say THAT out loud.
(There is no word 'unassimilation', is there? If you can come up with an antonym for 'assimilation', please do.)
The most intertaining and enjoyable time of my life in a court room as an expert was when I was to testify in a parole revocation hearing and the defendant, the son of a close associate of Edwin Edwards, decided the night before court to have himself committed because he felt suicidal.
We were in the Judges Chamber and the defendants Doctor, on the phone, told the Judge that he couldn't release the patient for some half-baked reason. The Judge told the Doc. I'm sending a Deputy to pick him up, you can have him when I through with him. The Doc protested until the Judge explained that he could come with the Deputy as a guest if he didn't like his decision. I've never seen anyone backpedal as fast as that Doc.
Go crazy back in Afghanistan, we are all stocked up here!
...because he remains A SUDDEN JIHAD SYNDROME PATIENT. Oops, did I suggest a particular theology there?
Seems like someone would tell Helen Thomas that the lipstick doesn't help.
R
Lipstick allows the casual viewer to recognize where her mouth is inrelationship to the rest of her face.
Maybe he gets paid by the word, LOL!
Only a maniac would become a Muslim in the first place. If being insane gives them a free pass when they commit murder, they are above the laws of the infidels they derive so much pleasure from torturing and murdering. Looks like we of the non-Muslim persuasion are just sh*t out of luck.
Did you HAVE to do that?
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