Abuelazam's uncle bought ticket for fleeing nephew
FLINT -- Law enforcement officers from several agencies testified Wednesday that Elias Abuelazam was very close to boarding a flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abuelazam is accused of stabbing to death 49-year-old Arnold Minor on August 2, 2010.
Abuelazam flew from Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky and then on to Atlanta on August 11, 2010.
He was about to aboard the flight to Tel Aviv when police arrested him in the Atlanta terminal.
"They then paged Mr. Abuelazam, asked him to come up to the podium there, identified him, asked him to step aside where they effectively detained him," testified Alf Cromwell, a supervisor with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
A security officer from Louisville Regional Airport testified that he was able to track down Abuelazam's luggage using information supplied to him by Michigan State Police.
Abuelazam's uncle took the stand as well Wednesday, shedding light on his relationship with the accused serial killer.
Tony Sahwany helped Abuelazam get a job at Kingwater Party Store in Mt. Morris Township, and once his nephew quit the job, Sahwany bought him a plane ticket back to Israel.
"I'm retired, I don't have the income I used to. You're leaving. I'm not going to keep you here. Wherever you want to go, your sister will not take you. Your best bet is to put you on a plane and go back home," Sahwany testified.
DNA experts from the Michigan State Police crime lab also testified Wednesday.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says DNA testimony will link Abuelazam to the Minor crime scene, along with several others from the summer of 2010.
