CRIME
Judge declares mistrial in Wael Ali murder trial
The trial of a man accused of killing his twin brother ended in a mistrial.
The jury deliberated for 20 hours with no decision in the trial of Wael Ali, on trial for killing his brother Wasel Ali.
There was no direct evidence in the case and dna evidence would not prove guilt since the accused is victims identical twin and they shared identical DNA .
Wael Ali, 24, stood accused of murdering his identical twin Wasel in 2007 and yet his family and friends in the Sudanese community remain convinced he didn’t do it.
“We’ve known the family for a while since they were young kids here,” says Ibrahim Hamed. “And from our own understanding we believe in the innocence of the guy.”
By all accounts, identical twins Wael and Wasel Ali were inseparable. But in the summer of 2007, after being dismissed from the army at the age of 19, they found themselves in trouble with the law.
Both were accused of impersonating a police officer and Wasel was fired from a job at the Columbia mall for allegedly shoplifting.
Prosecutors say Wael grew so angry with his twin that he strangled him to death on a dark and wooded pathway. The prosecutor started his closing arguments Tuesday with what he called an Arab proverb: He told the jury the wrath of brothers is fierce and devilish.
Jason Shapiro is defending Wael Ali. He says his parents have been crushed.
“To have one twin that’s been killed and the other twin that’s been blamed and the state wants to take that twin away and put him in jail for the rest of his life has been absolutely horrible,” Shapiro says.
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