QUEENS — The man accused of murdering a Queens imam and his assistant pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Thursday, according to court records.
Oscar Morel, 36, was indicted on first and second degree murder charges after imam Maulana Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64, were shot at point-blank range in the back of the head in broad daylight.
Investigators have video showing Morel at the scene and later recovered the murder weapon from his home, according to prosecutors.
Morel also told arresting officers, “I knew you were coming,” the New York Post reported.
Prosecutors were still trying to determine a motive for the killings and were trying to crack into his cellphone.
Morel’s lawyer, Michael Schwed, said police may have “planted evidence on him” after he rammed his SUV into a car being driven by detectives, NBC New York reported.
A witness also failed to pic Morel out of a lineup.
Morel was held without bail by Judge Gregory Lasak and is due back in court on Oct. 18.
