ABHA — The defense lawyer claimed that there is no material evidence tying Ziyad Abed to the murder of American businessman Blaine Whitworth in the US. Ziyad, on a scholarship, is accused of paying Reginald Singletary to murder Whitworth in the state of Missouri. Investigations, however, did not find any evidence. In addition, Singletary confessed that Ziyad did not pay him for the crime, but that he was going to pay him later. Ziyad's father told Al-Watan newspaper that the defense lawyer and the public prosecutor received documents of the evidence and the investigations. The lawyer told him that there is no material evidence against Ziyad, and the accusations are based solely on the Singletary's testimony. The records do not indicate any payments or transfers between Ziyad and the culprit. Telephone records do not display any contacts between the two. The father added that he is allowed to visit his son for half an hour weekly, and his son's psychological condition is worsening. He hopes for quick release of his son, but added that the prosecutor can request another hearing. — SG
