A landlord who listened regularly to conservative talk radio and had concerns about a National Day of Jihad has pled not guilty in the fatal stabbing of a Muslim boy.
BBC reports the judge refused to allow the release of Joseph Czuba, 71, despite pleas from his attorney that he did not have a criminal record and posed no threat to society.
The Plainfield Township man outside of Chicago had lived with his tenants for two years without any sign of conflict.
In fact, an uncle of the boy said Czuba had bought Wadea al-Fayoume a birthday gift just a few weeks earlier.
Authorities believe the victims were targeted because of their Muslim faith and the Israeli-Hamas war, reported CBS Chicago. Al-Fayoume’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was also stabbed multiple times.
Court documents examined by the BBC revealed the culprit used a military-style knife in the attack.
Waddea’s father attended the court hearing but declined to comment.
The mother has urged the public to “pray for peace” and expressed confidence that God will bring justice.
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