The prosecution’s next witness was a pencil-thin Indian man named Dr. Kumar Santi, a specialist in cell tower and satellite technology. After boring the judge with a long list of qualifications, Dr. Santi explained the concept of cell phone triangulation, based on the location of cell towers relaying signals for a phone at any given time. By plotting successive calls using this technology, it was possible to trace the general movement of a cell phone.
As a result, Santi was able to provide three important opinions. First, when the original messages were sent from Khalid Mobassar’s cell phone on June 2, they were sent from the vicinity of the Islamic Learning Center in Norfolk. Second, the phone that received the messages, which Santi referred to as “John Doe cell phone number one,” was in the Seven Corners area of northern Virginia. Third, the cell phone that sent the one-word “finished” message back to Mobassar’s cell phone shortly after the murders on June 12, called “John Doe cell phone number two,” was in the Sandbridge area. That same cell phone had been purchased earlier in the day in the vicinity of Petersburg, Virginia, and had been carried to Virginia Beach before being brought to Sandbridge.
Dr. Santi also testified that both John Doe cell phones one and two had been purchased using fake identities the police had not been able to trace.
A few times during Santi’s testimony, Alex leaned over and reminded Khalid not to look so glum. “Take notes,” Alex suggested. “Wipe that ‘guilty’ sign off your forehead.”
Alex tried hard to look upbeat himself, but he felt like Deegan had just placed the lid on his client’s coffin and was pulling out her hammer and nails.
When Santi stepped down, Deegan called Special Agent Christopher Long, who played for the court some of Khalid’s phone calls from a few days after the murder, with Khalid’s voice clearly identifiable on the recordings. This was done, Alex knew, because the cell phone had disappeared by the time the police had questioned Khalid. It was a preemptive strike by Deegan-taking away any defense based on the allegation that somebody had stolen Khalid’s phone and sent the messages ordering the killings.
Special Agent Long was followed by a local banker who had access to the Islamic Learning Center accounts. She testified to the irregularities in the mosque’s deposits and the $20,000 that had been wired to a bank in Beirut, authorized online by someone using Khalid’s password. Another path of bread crumbs that led to Khalid’s door.
Following the lunch break, the prosecution called Fatih Mahdi to the stand, and a murmur of anticipation floated through the spectators. Mahdi stepped forward looking swarthy and somber, his eyes on the judge as he stood in the well of the courtroom. Mahdi was a short man with broad shoulders and a thick waist. He had receding black hair and wore the white cloth hat and long white robe of an orthodox Muslim.
“Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Judge McElroy asked.
“I affirm,” Mahdi replied.
He took the stand and stared at Khalid. Alex’s client returned the stare without flinching.
It quickly became obvious that Mahdi did not want to be there. He answered Deegan’s questions with short sentences that he spit back at her, a perpetual scowl lining his face.
“At some point, did you become aware that your wife, Ja’dah Fatima Mahdi, was attending Beach Bible Church?”
“Yes.”
“How did you find out?”
“I followed her.”
“Why did you follow her?”
Mahdi sighed. “Because I had suspicions.”
“Based on what?”
“Changes in her behavior and the fact that she was making excuses to be out alone every Saturday night.”
For thirty minutes, Taj Deegan asked carefully scripted questions, and Mahdi gave his grudging answers. Mahdi testified that he had secretly followed his wife to Beach Bible Church and watched her meet up with Martin Burns. Later that night, Mahdi had confronted his wife and learned that she had converted to Christianity. Not knowing what else to do, Mahdi had turned to Khalid Mobassar for counsel. Mobassar was the only person Mahdi had talked to about his wife’s conversion.
“What did Mr. Mobassar say?” Taj Deegan asked.
Mahdi glanced at Khalid and turned back to Deegan. “He worried about what this might do to the reputation of my family and the mosque. He said he would like to meet with Ja’dah. He urged me not to tell anyone else.” Mahdi stopped, his face tight with tension. He started to speak but paused to gather himself. “Khalid said to leave it to him-that he would take care of it.”
Khalid leaned over and whispered in Alex’s ear. “That’s a lie.”
“What did you take that to mean?” Deegan asked.
Mahdi thought about this. “At the time, I thought it meant that he would talk to Ja’dah… help her see the error of her ways. Ja’dah was young and impetuous. I never thought it would mean…” Mahdi stopped again and looked accusatorily at Khalid. “In retrospect, it appears that I was wrong.”
Taj Deegan sat down sharply. “No further questions.”