Prosecutors didn’t file charges for threats ahead of professor’s killing
In a letter issued Monday to college students and school, the president of the University of Arizona stated prior requests for charges to be introduced in opposition to the previous pupil suspected within the deadly taking pictures of a division head went unheeded by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
County Attorney Lisa Conover pointed to constitutional restraints for a scarcity of charges made earlier than the educator’s killing and the absence of crimson flag legal guidelines to forestall such carnage.
Dr. Robert Robbins, college president, acknowledged in his letter that directors took a number of actions in opposition to former graduate pupil Murad Dervish earlier than Prof. Thomas Meixner, hydrology and atmospheric sciences division head, was shot and killed on Oct. 5 on campus.
Dervish, 46, was taken into custody that day and charged with murdering Meixner, 52. Police beforehand stated Dervish harassed and threatened workers.
‘He cherished every of you a lot’:Family, pals honor UA professor Tom Meixner at funeral
University police, according to Robbins’ letter, went to the county legal professional’s office twice this year to web charges in opposition to Dervish — as soon as within the spring primarily based on his communication with an unnamed workers member and once more in mid-September as a consequence of his reported harassment of school.
The first time, the county legal professional’s office declined to press charges in opposition to Dervish, Robbins’s wrote within the letter. As of Monday, Robbins continued, college police had not been notified of what willpower the county legal professional’s office made on charges for the second criticism.
Also on Monday, Conover issued a press release agreeing UA police proposed to her office two misdemeanor complaints on Dervish.
Neither criticism, Conover’s argued, met the “evidentiary requirements” to cost Dervish with the crime of threatening and intimidation underneath state legislation.
“Our office bases criminal charges on the evidence presented, which must rise to the Constitutional standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The complaints brought by UA police in April and again in September did not have sufficient proof to meet that standard, and therefore no charges were filed,” Conover’s assertion learn.
Conover pointed to the dearth of a crimson flag legislation within the state, arguing these measures enable for weapons to be faraway from these presenting a menace to themselves or others.
“A Red Flag bill failed to pass in Arizona,” Conover’s assertion learn. “Until we join other states by passing a Red Flag law, our police will be limited to the laws that are on the books, and preventable tragedies like this will continue to occur.”
More on the taking pictures:Head of UA Hydrology Department, Thomas Meixner, recognized as killed in campus taking pictures
Before his expulsion in June, Dervish had been prohibited from stepping foot in college property in January, Robbins wrote, with the dean of college students in February recommending expulsion as a consequence of “behavior directed at university personnel.”
Pictures of Dervish have been distributed all through the division with directions on how and when to name police, in accordance with Robbins. Entry passwords for rooms Dervish beforehand had entry to have been modified, Robbins talked about.
The college, in accordance with Robbins, additionally knowledgeable school on authorized cures they may take in opposition to Dervish, together with pursuing legal charges by the county legal professional’s office.
University cops in April additionally spoke with Dervish at his dwelling about threats he was accused of making, Robbins famous. Emails from Dervish have been additionally diverted for overview by college police and “certain other parties,” Robbins wrote.
The college president famous there can be an impartial skilled overview of campus safety, together with how UA dealt with the problems involving Dervish.
“The independent review will help inform us about what additional or different steps could have been taken to better protect our faculty, staff, students, and visitors and how we can improve our response, policies, and procedures involving campus safety and security in the future. We will share changes and new initiatives as they are implemented,” Robbins wrote.
Robbins first announced the review last week.
In the approaching weeks, directors will meet with school and workers from all faculties to garner ideas and to answer questions, Robbins added within the letter.
Access to an online form has been made obtainable for nameless feedback from college students, school, workers, dad and mom and different neighborhood members.
Reach breaking information reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at [email protected] or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
Support native journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com right this moment.
