Two japanese European gangsters by no means plotted to homicide exiled Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad, regardless of claims on the contrary by a bumbling “pizza supply hitman,” the suspect’s protection lawyer claimed in her closing argument Wednesday.
Polad Omarov and Rafat Amirov have been solely attempting to “rip-off” Iranian officers out of $500,000 in a weird scheme that concerned sending would-be murderer Khalid Mehdiyev exterior Alinejad’s Brooklyn residence with directions to not kill her, legal professional Elena Quick claimed.
“That is ridiculous! There was no homicide plot,” Quick mentioned in her closing assertion on the Manhattan trial of Omarov and Amirov, who’re charged with ordering the brazen hit on Alinejad in July 2022.
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Mehdiyev botched the high-stakes hit in spectacular vogue — together with by ordering meals to his automobile exterior her residence, ambling round maskless on her porch after which operating a cease signal whereas fleeing the scene, resulting in his arrest, the feds say.
Omarov’s lawyer claimed that the staggering slipups from Mehdiyev — who mentioned he had been promoting pizzas within the Bronx earlier than his arrest — have been proof that his handlers by no means needed to kill Alinejad in any respect.
“This was a rip-off,” Quick advised jurors. “There was no James Bond 007. They employed a clown because the hit man.”
Among the many proof the feds have revealed through the week-and-a-half-long trial are images of gaudy cake presents that Omarov acquired touting his place in a legal group referred to as the Thieves-in-Regulation.
One deal with Omarov acquired was topped with a gold crown and an edible handgun, proof reveals.
Quick began her closing statements by inviting the jury to think about they have been watching a TV present referred to as “The Pizza Supply Hitman.”
The Russia-born legal professional then placed on an japanese European accent and acted out a skit for jurors during which she pretended to take orders for each pizzas and murders at Peppino’s, the White Plains Street pizza store the place Mehdiyev labored earlier than he was busted.
Mehdivev was each the “world’s most dishonest Peppino’s pizzeria supervisor” and the “world’s most dishonest Russian gangster,” she mentioned, calling him a “liar who can’t be trusted.”
Prosecutors countered that Omarov and Amirov have been “all too keen” to assert a $500,000 “bounty” that the Iranian authorities put out for Alinejad, who is thought for her outspoken criticism of the Iranian regime and the way it treats the nation’s ladies.
The feds drew jurors’ consideration to the trove of texts between Mehdiyev and the 2 defendants — who’re all a part of the identical gang primarily based of their residence nation of Azerbaijan — outlining the plot to kill Alinejad.
“They referred to as for God’s blessing on their murderous endeavor, and so they prayed for outcomes,” prosecutor Michael Lockhard mentioned as Omarov and Amirov sat calmly on the protection desk, their fingers folded throughout their lap, slumping into their chairs.
Alinejad took the stand Tuesday and described the second she noticed her would-be killer staring straight into her eyes by way of her pristine sunflower patch — however she mentioned she figured the “gigantic” hitman was simply admiring her backyard.
Brokers of the Iranian authorities have been searching Alinejad relentlessly since she fled the Center Japanese nation in 2009, however their barbarous schemes have up to now fallen brief.
Jury deliberations are anticipated to start Thursday. The alleged gangster duo has pleaded not responsible to the fees, which may imprison them for many years in the event that they’re convicted.
Mehdiyev — who mentioned he was paid $30,000 for the botched hit — determined to cooperate with the feds after pleading responsible to tried homicide and gun costs.
He faces a minimum of 15 years in jail for attempting to kill Alinejad and unrelated racketeering costs.
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