WARRENSBURG, Mo. — A judge denied bond for a Saudi Arabian man suspected of hiring a man to kill a Warrensburg business owner in September 2012.
Prosecutors believe Ziyad Abid hired Reginald Singletary to shoot and kill Blaine Whitworth, who was 25-years old when he died.
A previous judge had set a $2 million bond for Abid, and Abid’s father indicated the Saudi government was prepared to pay it.
Johnson County, Mo., Judge Mike Wagner said in court Friday that he had serious concerns about letting Abid bond out of jail, but legally, he didn’t have a choice. The problem is that since his arrest, Abid hasn’t been going to school, causing his student visa to expired, so he’s here illegally. If he’s released from jail, the prosecutor has argued that immigration officials could arrest Abid, and deport him. However, state law doesn’t allow the judge to hold someone without bond unless it’s a death penalty case, so the judge said legally his hands are tied.
On Tuesday Wagner reversed the decision and ordered “no bond” be allowed for Abid,
Abid’s defense attorney said he may file an appeal next week.