Prosecution begins in Alimohamed murder trial

DA offers a summary of events leading up to the murder The jury trial will continue this morning in the case of the two defendants accused of murdering fifth-year Mathematics graduate student Al-Moez Alimohamed. The prosecution plans to seek the death penalty for Anthony Archer, 17, who is charged with murder in the first degree, according to Assistant District Attorney Roger King. Gregory Pennington, also 17, is charged with second degree murder. The prosecution is seeking a sentence of life in prison for Pennington, according to Mathematics Graduate Chairperson Wolfgang Ziller. Archer and Pennington are also charged with robbery, theft, criminal conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges, Ziller said. Judge James Fitzgerald explained to the jury yesterday that it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, but the jury must base their decision on the credibility of the evidence and testimony, Ziller explained. The jury will be sequestered throughout the entire duration of the trial. King began yesterday with a summary of the case. He recounted how all five of the defendants had agreed to "jam" someone the evening of Alimohamed's murder, and after traveling more than 20 blocks, selected Alimohamed as their victim. The five proceeded to kick and beat him, taking a MAC card, $5, his student ID and keys, Ziller said. Archer, Ollie Taylor and Antoine Saunders were concerned that Alimohamed might be able to identify them and call the police, and Archer gave the command "bang him." Taylor took the rifle from Saunders and shot Alimohamed in the chest, King explained. Archer attorney Vincent Larusso's main defense will be that there is not conclusive evidence that Archer walked back with Saunders and Taylor, and although admitting that his client was involved in the robbery, he was not an accomplice with the intent to murder, Ziller said. He added that Pennington's attorney, Dan Rendine, will claim that there is not enough evidence to prove that his client was even involved in the robbery, the beating, or the shooting. Yesterday, several Philadelphia Police officers also testified as to details of the arrest. Officer Mark Uffelman, who was at the scene of the crime stated that he saw all five defendants attack and kick the victim, although he could not see who actually did the shooting, Ziller said. Uffelman testified that he saw two of the accused return across the street to where Alimohamed lay and then heard a muffled gunshot. At the time of arrest, Taylor had the gun used on Alimohamed and the victim's keys. The defense attacked this testimony, protesting that it was too dark for Uffelman to see who was and was not beating Alimohamed, Ziller said. Saunders, who made a plea bargain in January accepting life in prison instead of being tried for the death penalty, also testified yesterday, although Ziller said his statement was full of contradictions. "Sometimes Saunders would say that Archer was involved and then he would say that he wasn't," he added. "It was not a good testimony." Ziller said the jury must emerge with one of three verdicts: first-, second- or third-degree murder. The trial will continue this morning and there will be a bus leaving from David Rittenhouse Laboratory at 9:30 a.m. for students who want to attend.