LEGAL BRIEFS: Three unrelated criminal trials postponed

The case is not expected to go to trial for some time. Alimohamed, a fifth-year Mathematics graduate student, was murdered last August near his home at 47th and Pine streets during a robbery. Anthony Archer, Khaalis Edmondson, Gregory Pennington, Antoine Saunders and Ollie Taylor were arrested for the homicide. · The trial of Wharton evening student Douglas Murphy -- the student caught carrying a loaded 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol into class in April -- was called for a continuance last month. The trial was originally scheduled to begin August 7. "In other words the trial was postponed indefinitely," a spokesperson for the Philadelphia district attorney's office said. Charges against Murphy include stalking, carrying firearms in a public place, carrying firearms without a license, harassment and terrorist threats. All of these charges are misdemeanor offenses, according to a law enforcement source. Assistant District Attorney Richard Maloumiam is handling the case. · The criminal trial of Marketing Professor Scott Ward, which had been scheduled to begin July 7, was delayed once again this summer, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. No date has been set for the trial, because the Commonwealth is waiting for Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Bernard Moore to rule on the suppression of evidence. Ward was arrested in the fall of 1993 for allegedly soliciting sex from minors. Ward is charged with statutory rape, indecent assault, indecent exposure, corruption of minors and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. The evidence in question consists of audio and visual interviews that the defense conducted with "B.M.," the assumed name of a child who is the state's chief witness. The prosecution has motioned to prevent the use of the evidence, claiming the defense acted unethically in their interview. Following the completion of the criminal trial, Ward will also have to contend with a pending civil suit. -- Amy Lipman and Josh Fineman Man convicted of assaulting student Keith Vivett, the man accused of carjacking, robbing, raping and shooting a College of General Studies student in the face in October 1993, was convicted by a jury in June. Vivett was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault, kidnapping, a weapons offense and two counts of robbery. The 26-year-old victim was walking to her car in the public parking lot at 34th and Chestnut streets October 20, 1993 at 9:30 p.m. when Vivett kidnapped her, according to Assistant District Attorney Curtis Douglas. Vivett forced the student into the backseat of her car at gunpoint and robbed her of $7. He drove her to North Philadelphia, and forced her to remove her clothing in the car. He then sexually molested her. After driving around for 20 minutes, Vivett stopped the car and molested the student again. He then gagged her with her bra and forced the nude student into a house, where he shot her in the face. Common Pleas Judge Arnold New sent Vivett to prison to await sentencing in September. -- Josh Fineman