Community Corner

Defense Presents No Evidence in Millbrae Murder Trial

Jury will deliberate on Monday.

The attorney of a man accused of killing his best friend in Millbrae after a night of drinking did not present the court with any evidence on Wednesday to defend his client’s actions.

Teyseer Zaid Najdawi, 28, is accused of shooting his friend multiple times in the head as they were driving home from a night of drinking in San Francisco in 2008, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

He plead not guilty by reason of insanity on Oct. 21, 2011. The jury will need to consider his mental state at the time of the murder to acquit him – whether he was unaware of his actions because he was insane or if he deliberately murdered his friend.

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If the jury finds him insane, he will be sent to a state mental hospital. His mental competency has been a recurring issue throughout the case.

After attacking his cellmate for no apparent reason in county jail, court-appointed doctors deemed him not competent to stand trial. Najdawi was committed to the California Department of Mental Health in 2009 and placed at Napa State Hospital, and after a year, doctors said he was fit to stand trial.

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After returning from Napa, he fired his lawyer and wanted to represent himself, but after further psychiatric evaluation, his request was denied.

The prosecution and defense will present their closing arguments to the jury on Jan. 23. Najdawi remains in custody without bail. 


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