Tinley Park man charged with killing wife
Repeatedly hit her with a metal bar, prosecutors say
Bahaa Sam argued with his wife about her going to visit their daughter in the hospital before he allegedly bludgeoned his mate to death in their front yard with a weight lifting bar, a Will County prosecutor told jurors during opening arguments Wednesday.
Sam, 52, tried to block his wife, Nermeen, from leaving their Tinley Park home on Dec. 19, 2012. When she fought her way past him, he grabbed the weight lifting bar and followed her outside where he repeatedly hit her with the bar and left her lifeless body laying in the front yard under a tree, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Slazyk told jurors.
Her body was discovered by a Tinley Park employee driving past the couple’s home.
Sam faces two counts of first degree murder for his wife’s death. He faces 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted.
Defense attorney Neil Patel didn’t dispute what happened, but told jurors Sam suffered mental illness and that he planned to show jurors Sam meets the criteria for being declared not guilty by reason of insanity.
“We are not suggesting he didn’t do this,” Patel said. “We are suggesting that there is a reason why.”
Two of Sam’s four children testified Tuesday. One child recalled being home watching television when his parents started arguing. The child told jurors he saw his father run after his mother when she left the home and hit her with the weight lifting bar.
”She fell,” the child told jurors. “And he started hitting her.”
Sam covered his face and sobbed as his children testified.
In a videotaped statement to police, which also was played for jurors Wednesday, Sam admitted to hitting his wife once or twice with the bar and repeatedly asked how she was doing and if he could see his children.
During opening arguments, Slazyk argued that Sam was having trouble adjusting to life in a new country. Sam, who was a teacher in Egypt, managed a restaurant but eventually was demoted and lost his job and struggled to find employment. His wife worked and would ask him about getting a job, Slazyk said.
The morning they argued, Sam tried to allegedly block his wife from leaving the home. She allegedly bit his hands and ran outside; leaving Sam “livid.”
“He couldn’t take it anymore ... her attitude,” Slazyk argued. “And he killed her.”
Patel, however, noted that Sam was struggling with mental illness and had sought help. He had visited doctors at a local quick care and Loyola Hospital. Patel said medical professionals described him as “disorientated, agitated and not eating well.” A priest at his church, who also was a doctor, told Sam “something was wrong with your brain and you. need help,” Patel said. But Sam would chalk it up to stress and didn’t follow treatment plans.
Testimony is expected to continue Thursday.