A long list of criminal charges was read off to a St. Thomas man accused of fatally stabbing his father. Defendant Mohammed Salem was arrested on March 5, but his initial court appearance was delayed while authorities assessed his mental health.
Salem is accused of murder, assault and using a deadly weapon to commit violent crimes against 69-year-old Hakim Salem. The elder Salem was pronounced dead by emergency medical technicians summoned to the family home in Estate Lerkenlund.
Mohammed is also accused of attacking his brother Jamil — age unknown — in the same incident. Superior Court Magistrate Simone Van Holten-Turnbull read off 10 different charges as part of the formalities at Monday’s advice of rights hearing.
An earlier attempt to advise the defendant of the charges and his legal rights took place several weeks earlier, witnesses said but was not completed. The magistrate said at the time, Mohammed claimed he did not remember the events of March 5. He was then sent off island for a psychiatric evaluation.
Van Holten informed those present at Monday’s hearing that tests performed showed there was nothing wrong with the defendant’s memory. Once his medical status was determined, she said, the hearing could proceed.
Mohammad Salem took part in the hearing by way of teleconference from the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix.
Charges and penalties included first- and second-degree murder, first- and third-degree assault, use of a knife in the commission of a violent crime, and violation of a domestic violence restraining order. All of those charges pertained to the alleged attack on Hakim Salem.
Additional charges included first- and third-degree assault against Jamil Salem, use of a deadly weapon in commission of a violent crime, and brandishing a deadly weapon.
Both sets of charges included domestic violence enhancements on the assault charges. Mohammed was told the maximum penalty on the most serious charge — first-degree murder — is life in prison without parole.
The magistrate then asked if the defendant understood the charges that were read to him. “I think I do,” he said.
Public Defender Annette Collins said her client had a criminal record which included a three-year prior prison term. She added that the defendant was homeless at the time of the incident and that attempts to find someone willing to serve as a third-party custody for Mohammed’s pretrial release were unsuccessful so far.
But when Collins asked the court to lower the defendant’s $1 million bail, the magistrate said no.
“This is a very serious situation. I am fearful for this community … I am not going to take a chance with Mr. Salem not taking his medication and then being out in the community and having something like this happen again,” Van Holten said.
Assistant Attorney General Brenda Scales asked the court to stipulate conditions for home confinement with electronic monitoring in case the bail conditions were met. The magistrate agreed.
At one point, the defendant interrupted. “I am not of this community,” he said, although he was born on St. Thomas on Oct. 23, 1989.
“Mr. Mohammad, thank you for your opinion, but the court has made its decision,” the magistrate said.
An arraignment hearing was scheduled for June 28 at 10 a.m.
