Trial Delayed for Man Charged With Slaying Wife, 4 Others

A judge delayed the murder trial Tuesday of Toufic (Tom) Naddi until Jan. 2 over his objections but with the consent of his attorneys, who claimed they were not ready for trial.

Naddi, 44, met in chambers with San Diego Superior Court Judge Barbara Gamer, who denied his third motion to fire his third set of attorneys.

Naddi, who could receive the death penalty if convicted of murder in the slayings of his wife and four of her relatives at Naddi’s El Cajon home, wanted the trial, which was set for Tuesday, to begin.

He is charged with the June 1 shootings of his wife, Aida Naddi, 26; her father, Habib Sabbagh, 73; her mother, Lillian Sabbagh, 58; her brother, Michael Sabbagh, 38, and her brother-in-law, Osama Mashimi, 38, a Jordanian actor and comedian.

Milly Durovic, one of Naddi’s attorneys, told the judge the delay was necessary because they had not yet received the results of Naddi’s blood-alcohol tests. Durovic said the defense attorneys also wanted an expert to determine if anyone tampered with tape recordings made by the El Cajon Police Department of Naddi’s statements.

Durovic said the delay was also needed to allow a psychiatrist to have three more sessions with Naddi.