Hearing for man charged in 2 Iraqi killings to resume May 15

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Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri

PHOENIX -- A hearing is scheduled to resume on May 15 in Phoenix over whether an Iraqi immigrant accused of participating in the 2006 killings of two police officers in Fallujah should remain jailed until his extradition case is over.

The detention hearing for Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri started on Friday with his attorney calling witnesses and making arguments.

The hearing went longer than expected on Friday, and prosecutors haven't yet had a chance to make arguments.

Ahmed, who became a U.S. citizen in 2015, is accused of leading an al-Qaida group that fatally shot the officers. He operated a driving school in Phoenix until his arrest three months ago as part of an extradition request made by the Iraqi government.

Ahmed has denied involvement with any terror group and in the killings.

Lawyer for man accused of being al-Queda leader in Iraq dispute accusations

Defense lawyers for a Phoenix-area man who Federal authorities say is suspected of killing two police officers while acting as an al-Qaeda leader in Iraq are questioning his arrest.

Prosecutors said Ahmed should remain jailed due to the violent nature of the attacks on the officers.

They said Ahmed is at risk of fleeing from authorities because he left Iraq after the killings to avoid prosecution.

Ahmed’s attorney disputed that her client poses a danger and is at risk of fleeing.

She has questioned why the Iraqi criminal case against Ahmed took nearly 14 years to get filed, doubts her client would get a fair trial in his native country and complained about pervasive corruption in the Iraqi justice system.