Defendant names alleged accomplices in Lex Street case

The quest for justice in the "Lex Street Massacre" took another turn this week when one of the defendants formally testified against two alleged accomplices. Co-defendant Bruce Veney named Khalid and Dawid Faruqi as accomplices to the murders in their preliminary hearing in Municipal Court this week. Veney, the Faruqi brothers and Shihean Black are four men implicated in the murders of seven West Philadelphia residents that occurred in December of 2000. According to Robert Gamburg, attorney for Khalid Faruqi, Veney testified that he was picked up by Black and told to bring his gun. Veney and Black then allegedly picked up the Faruqi brothers, and they drove over to a Lex Street crack house to rob it. Veney said that they had gone to the house to take money from George Porter, one of the eventual victims. Black had allegedly traded vehicles with him, and Porter had blown out the clutch in Black's car. Veney testified that upon arriving at the house he stood guard outside while Black and the Faruqi brothers entered. Veney continued, saying he peeked in at one point after about three minutes because he was worried about how long it was taking. He saw the Faruqi brothers at the bottom of the steps patting people down and Black in the background kicking someone. He then shut the door. Shortly thereafter he heard gunshots and ran to his car. The others soon followed. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Veney testified that Dawid Faruqi told him that the turtleneck he had used to conceal his face had fallen down and that the shooting was therefore necessary to protect their identities. Veney has pleaded guilty in exchange for a 15-30 year sentence. Gamburg, however, has pledged that his client will make no such deal and that the case will go to trial. "I feel very confident that Khalid Faruqi is innocent," he said. Veney is "lacking in credibility because he claimed to have seen [Khalid] every day for the past year... however, Khalid Faruqi was in jail throughout the entire year." The Faruqi brothers are scheduled for arraignment Feb. 5.