Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
TROY, Michigan -- Two men are charged with first-degree premeditated murder in what prosecutors called the "cold-blooded" killing of a Troy couple Tuesday night.
Charged with two counts each of first-degree murder are Miguel Angel Servando, 40, of Katy, Texas, and Nelson Oswoldo Mendoza, 34, of Houston, Texas.
The two men also are charged with two counts each of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony. The charges carry two-year consecutive penalties.
Both men were dressed in orange and white jail uniforms during Friday morning's arraignment. Servando stood motionless with no expression, while Mendoza spoke with the judge through a Spanish language interpreter.
The men are charged in what prosecutors called an "execution-style" killing of Brij Chhabra, 65, and his wife, Aasha, 55. Assistant prosecutor Kelly Chard said the couple both died of one gun shot to the head. She added that Aasha Chhabra was confined to a wheelchair, and had limited use of her hands and feet.
The men stood mute in 52-4 District Court in Troy before Judge Michael Martone, who told them through the interpreter that he would enter on their behalf a not guilty plea. An attorney for the men will be appointed by the court.
The judge set a preliminary exam for 8:30 a.m. March 27.
Martone ordered that the men be held without bail in the Oakland County Jail at the request of Oakland County prosecutors. He also stipulated, at the request of pretrial services, that the men not have any contact with each other.
In denying bail, Martone said, "This is a significant case ... there is a risk of flight."
Chard and fellow assistant prosecutor Ken Frazee characterized both men as a flight risk, saying that both are from El Salvador and are believed to be illegal aliens. Chard said that immigration officials have a "detainer" on Servando.
Prosecutors said that Servando had been arrested in 1999 for what was described as alien smuggling, and in 2005 for the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances. In 1995, he was caught with 19 pounds of marijuana, but prosecution was declined in that case for an unknown reason, Chard said.
Posted by tyne at March 16, 2008