Trial begins for ex-University of Arizona grad student accused of fatally shooting professor in 2022

The proceedings has begun for a erstwhile University of Arizona postgraduate pupil accused of fatally shooting a prof successful 2022 aft helium was banned from field due to the fact that of harassment complaints

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A assemblage has been seated for the proceedings of a erstwhile University of Arizona postgraduate pupil accused of fatally shooting a prof successful 2022 aft helium was banned from field due to the fact that of harassment complaints.

Murad Dervish faces 7 felony charges including first-degree execution successful the decease of Thomas Meixner, who was changeable respective times wrong a gathering connected Oct. 5, 2022.

Meixner, 52, had headed the university’s Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences and was an adept connected godforsaken h2o issues. Dervish, 48, had been a postgraduate pupil successful the hydrology programme earlier helium was expelled.

Campus constabulary said the shooting occurred wrong the Harshbarger Building, which houses the hydrology department.

According to a transgression complaint, a flyer with a photograph of Dervish had been circulated to assemblage unit successful February 2022 with instructions to telephone 911 if helium ever entered the building.

The ailment besides said Dervish was barred from being connected schoolhouse property, and helium had been the taxable of respective reports of harassment and threats to unit members moving astatine Harshbarger.

Lawyers for the Meixner’s household said Dervish had threatened the prof successful the past and entered the gathering without being stopped oregon followed.

University President Robert Robbins said field constabulary tried to get Dervish charged 2 abstracted times earlier the shooting and took the complaints to Pima County prosecutors. But they were told determination wasn’t capable evidence.

Dervish fled the shooting scene. But helium was arrested aft his car was stopped connected a road much than 120 miles (193 kilometers) northwest of Tucson. A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered successful the vehicle, and the ammunition was accordant with the ammunition casings recovered astatine the scene, according to the transgression complaint.

Meixner’s household filed a $9 cardinal announcement of assertion — a precursor to a suit — successful March 2023, saying determination were galore ways the assemblage failed to support him and the remainder of the community.

The schoolhouse and the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s 3 nationalist universities, reached a $2.5 cardinal colony with Meixner’s household past January.

Dervish’s proceedings is expected to past 2 weeks.