TOWN OF WAPPINGER – Jamal Alsayes, the 46-year-old man accused of trying to kill a business associate with a car and an axe will be tried on the charge of attempted murder after a judge’s ruling on Monday. A recording of the Dutchess County 911 call made by Alsayes includes a confession.
The preliminary hearing for the February 18 attack at E-Z Storage in Fishkill was held in the Town of Wappinger Justice Court on Monday, February 28. The case was transferred from Fishkill because the judge recused himself.
Alsayes called 911 after the attack to report that he had just killed a man at the storage facility by running him over with his car. As the dispatcher was trying to get information from him, Alsayes said he killed the man because he was trying to ruin his life and family. He advised the dispatcher that he had run over the victim and said “I killed him”. As the call continued, the defendant indicated that he also hit the victim with an axe. He told the dispatcher that the axe was now on the roof of the car and he would wait for the police to arrive.
On Monday, Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Richards played the 12-minute recording of the 911 call. Alsayes sat in the courtroom with his two attorneys from the Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office and a court-approved Arabic translator. In addition to playing the recording, Richards called one of the first arriving State Troopers to testify.
Judge Carl Wolfson ruled that there was enough evidence to justify charging Alsayes with attempted murder and the defendant was returned to the Dutchess County Jail.
Dutchess County Assistant Public Defender Kevin Prue was assisted by James McEleny. The two men said they plan to explore all of the legal options available to their client, including a mental health defense.
Video of Alsayes being escorted into court is below:
