Elwahhabi found guilty of Perkins murder

A Howard County jury has convicted El Soundani Elwahhabi of the 2010 murder of Susan Sachs in the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center. 

 

The verdict was handed down after a two day trial and only 60 minutes of deliberations. 

 

Elwahhabi showed no emotion as the jury read the verdict yesterday afternoon.  

 

Prior to the jury deliberations, Elwahhabi's attorney entered a motion for a judgment of acquittal which was denied by a judge. Elwahhabi did not testify during the trial. 

 

During closing arguments, the State's Attorney walked the jury through witness testimony, crime scene photos and surveillance video from the hospital. 

 

Deputy State's Attorney Kim Oldham emphasized, " Even if you believe (the defense) that there was a murder-suicide pact, it's still first-degree murder.  There is no such thing as consensual murder in the law."

 

The defense argued that the pact was real and Elwahhabi believed the pact was real. 

 

Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2013.