Posted on 03/05/2005 12:17:35 AM PST by SmithL
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The upstairs tenant of an Egyptian Christian family found slain in their home in January and another man have been charged in the killings, and authorities said Friday the motive was robbery, not religious fanaticism.
Two men already on parole for drug offenses pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder in the Jan. 11 killing of the Armanious family, which had caused tension between Christians and Muslims in New Jersey.
Edward McDonald, 25, who rented a second-floor apartment above the Armanious family, and Hamilton Sanchez, 30, were ordered held on $10 million bail.
"I didn't kill nobody, man," Sanchez said as he was led from the courtroom. McDonald, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and black pants, stared at the floor during the hearing.
Authorities said Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife, Amal Garas, 37, and their children, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8, were slain three days before their bodies, bound and gagged with puncture wounds to their heads and necks, were found Jan. 14.
In the days after the slayings, about $3,000 was withdrawn from Armanious' bank account using his ATM card, and investigators were able to get surveillance video from cameras over those cash machines, officials said.
Both men were arrested Thursday.
"I'd like to make one thing perfectly clear: The motive for these murders was robbery. This was a crime based on greed, the desperate need of money," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.
DeFazio said officials believe a planned robbery spiraled out of control when the 8-year-old loosened her bonds and recognized McDonald. He is accused of killing her to avoid identification, and Sanchez is accused of killing the three others, DeFazio said.
The slaying had caused speculation that Hossam Armanious might have angered Muslims with opinions he posted in Internet chat rooms under the user name "I Love Jesus." The arrests were welcomed by Christian and Muslim groups who said they were disturbed by the religious tension.
Right. It's all a pro-Muslim/terrorist conspiracy by the Bush "It's a ree-lidgin of peas" administration.
. . .well, in ascribing guilt or innocnence to whichever side. ..let's not overstate either.
Yes, assumptions were made. . .but not just totally 'wild' asumptions. The conclusions were rushed; for sure.
OTOH. . .the 'hate' expressed on the web-sites visited by this family; the threats made against them. . .and expressed by Muslims - not far away - but 'home grown'. . .was real.
Just as suspicions run to 'white supremist groups/Matt Hale et al. . .because of the horrific killing of a Federal Judge's husband and Mother. . .whether they did this or not. . .or are responsible in some way; remains to be seen.
The threats however, were made; and continue to be; the hate expressed is a fact.
And of course, while all signs point to guilt on behalf of the two men arrested in NJ. . .and while I am not doubting, yet. . .that they have the right perps. . .there is still much to learn here.
We do not have to go beyond our borders to find hatred couched in racism; religion. . .or politcs.
On the basis of later postings I'd guess crime scene and blood state, maybe confession.
The viciousness of the crime means robbery was only one motive -- sheer brutal hate played another, obviously.
I think you're right.
He IS A NEWBIE TROLL!!
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