A strange case involving a Saudi national accused of conspiring to murder a bar owner in Missouri has came to a close on Friday when prosecutors dropped all charges against Ziyad Abid, according to the Kansas City Star.
Abid was accused of paying his roommate, Reginald Singletary, to murder popular Warrensburg bar owner Blaine Whitworth. Singletary had been a bouncer at one of the bars owned by Whitworth and allegedly shot and killed Whitworth in his driveway Sept. 1, 2012. Once in custody Singletary said that Abid had paid him to murder the bar owner, according to KCTV.
Pat Peters, Abid's defense attorney, believes that Singletary's credibility was questioned and that his story had changed many times leading to the dismissal of charges against Abid. Peters also told KCTV that he thinks the Warrensburg police coached Singletary to give the statements he gave.
"From the beginning of this case, the reason the case was charged were the statements of Reginald Singletary," Peters said. "And the prosecutor has determined that he's unworthy of belief. Police told Reginald Singletary what to say."
A statement from Johnson County Prosecutor Lynn M. Stoppy explained why the case was dismissed.
"Very recently, our understanding of evidence previously obtained from a critical witness has changed," Stoppy said. "As a result, the state is currently left without sufficient evidence to support the prosecution at this time."
Part of what made this case unique was that Abid was able to post bail but was denied release from jail by a judge on two separate occasions. Abid's parents convinced the Saudi government to pay the $2 million bond for Abid in April but Circuit Court Judge Michael Wagner denied the release because he didn't like the source of the money, according to the Kansas City Star.
Abid was in the United States on a student visa that expired while he was in jail. Judge Wagner cited concerns that Abid would be deported once released from jail as another reason for refusing his release, according to the Kansas City Star.
Reginald is still being held and charged with first-degree murder. The trial is expected to begin in February.
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