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Maslamani To Get Trial For Carjacking

Teen To Face Judge Thursday In Landry Case

POSTED: Monday, November 9, 2009
UPDATED: 6:55 pm EST November 9, 2009

A teen accused in a carjacking, bank robbery and the death of a Chesterfield Township man was bound over for trial in the carjacking case Monday.

Seventeen-year-old Ihab Maslamani appeared Monday in Roseville district court on charges of carjacking, having a firearm in a felony and possession of a stolen weapon in the Aug. 11 incident at a Walmart store.

Carjacking victim David Hassroune spoke at the hearing.

"I went to get out of the car and there was a gun pointed at me," Hassroune said. "My heart dropped three feet to my stomach."

Police said Maslamani was wearing a wig at the time of the carjacking and was spotted by Roseville police officer Andrew Berger shortly after the incident.

Berger said Maslamani began running after he was pulled over, and that he took off the wig in the process.

Detective Sgt. Keith Weller interviewed Maslamani right after his arrest.

"He admitted to having a (gun) magazine on him. He called it a clip," said Weller. "He said that's all he had and that he did not have a gun."

Weller said Maslamani told him he was staying with a girlfriend in the area of 8 Mile Road and Gratiot Area. Police could not locate the alleged girlfriend and said they don't know if she even exists.

Weller said Maslamani told him he approached the victim and offered him $50 for a ride to Flint. When the man refused, Weller said Maslamani demanded the victim's car.

District Judge Catherine Steenlard ruled there was enough probable cause to send Maslamani to trial.

His next court date in that case is scheduled for Nov. 23.

Other Charges:

Maslamani is also charged with the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Landry.

Monday, prosecutors said evidence from the Roseville carjacking case will play a role in the Landry murder case.

"Did he admit to having the (gun) magazine to the weapon (in the carjacking) that we are going to link to that (Landry) murder," said Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Bill Cataldo.

Landry was also carjacked Aug. 9 outside of a Quiznos on Gratiot Avenue near 10 Mile Road in Eastpointe. His body was found a week later at an abandoned house on Detroit's east side. An autopsy determined Landry had been shot in the head.

A Landry family friend said he has been disgusted with Maslamani's behavior in court.

"He has no remorse. None whatsoever for what he's done to anybody," said Bob Perugi, who attended Monday's court session on the carjacking charge.

Cataldo agreed saying after Monday's session that, "The smiles in court. The rolling of the eyes means (Maslamani) he shows no respect."

Maslamani's defense lawyer said the teen may not fully understand the seriousness of the cases.

"I don't think he understands the gravity of it all," said Defense Attorney Joseph Kosmala. "I'm not sure he will ever understand."

Another teen, Robert Taylor, 16, is also charged in the slaying of Landry, accused of being the lookout during the kidnapping. He turned himself in to police.

Maslamani and Taylor will be in court Thursday for the Landry case.

At least 14 witnesses, including Landry's parents, are expected to testify at that hearing.

However, Kosmala said Monday, there may be holes in the prosecution's case.

"The more we hear about it. The more tenuous the prosecutor's case becomes, at least from my perspective," said Kosmala. "I don't see, at this point, proof beyond a reasonable doubt of first degree murder."

Maslamani's Past Maslamani has already been bound over for trial in a bank robbery case, where he is accused of robbing a Flagstar Bank at gunpoint.

Court documents show Maslamani has built up a history of criminal behavior and has been diagnosed with anger management issues.

Maslamani was charged with assault and battery in 2006, carjacking in 2007, and several marijuana charges in 2007 and 2008.

Court documents state Maslamani was born in Lebanon and that his parents sent him and an older sister to the United States to live with an uncle when he was just 8 years old.

He recently escaped from St. Thomas Detention Facility, a halfway house in Detroit for teens who have had trouble with the law and display aggressive and anti-social behavior.

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