Brothers Charged With Murder In Parents' Deaths Set For Prelim
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Two brothers are scheduled for a preliminary examination Monday on charges of murder in the deaths of their parents found in an Evergreen neighborhood in San Jose last week.
Hasib Bin Golamrabbi, 22, and Omar Golamrabbi, 17, who is being tried as an adult, made quick appearances at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, where Superior Court Judge Sharon Chatman set the preliminary examination, which will determine if there is enough evidence to move the case to a trial.
The brothers are being held without bail for the fatal shootings of Golam Rabbi, 59, and Shamima Rabbi, 57, in the 3000 block of Lucas Court.
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Hasib was in a jail uniform consisting of a yellow shirt and red pants as he walked into the courtroom and sat next to his attorney, Andy Gutierrez, who indicated he may not be ready for Monday's hearing.
Omar Golamrabbi, who's being represented by the Santa Clara County Alternate Defender's Office, appeared in court near a door to a holding cell next to the courtroom facing Chatman and wasn't visible to the public.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Matthew Braker said after Thursday's brief hearing that the people are ready to present their case on Monday.
The defendants' parents died sometime on April 23 and were found a day later by relatives who were concerned about them, according to court documents filed in the case by San Jose police Sgt. Patrick Guire.
The relatives made numerous attempts to contact the sons, who said they were in Oakland where they attended a convention and spent the night at a hotel, Guire said.
On April 24, Hasib Golamrabbi apparently dropped off his younger brother about 2 miles away from their home and was seen by an officer walking along a street, according to Guire.
On April 27, the 17-year-old boy was taken into custody in San Jose and the 22-year-old man was arrested in Tracy, police said.
In his statement to police, Omar Golamrabbi said his older brother carried out the alleged shootings inside their home, according to Guire.
The teenage boy's account differs from his brother. Hasib Golamrabbi told detectives that a stranger assaulted him and forced him to shoot his father, but didn't know how his mother died, Guire said.
Omar Golamrabbi's handwriting in a notebook found at the home was similar to writings on the walls close to where the bodies were discovered, according to Guire.
Some of the written messages read, "Sorry my first kill was clumsy," and, "I can't be like you telling a lie ... I can't love someone without telling them," family friend Hasan Rahim wrote in a commentary post Thursday on New America Media's website.
Rahim said the couple were members of the Evergreen Islamic Center and often volunteered their time for the community.
Golam Rabbi was a quality assurance engineer and Shamima Rabbi was an accountant, according to Rahim.
"It is impossible to fathom what Hasib and Omar had been thinking prior to their alleged roles in the killings," Rahim said.
"No matter how noble the instincts of mercy, forgiveness and repentance may be, however, they will not override the imperatives of justice," Rahim said.
