TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - The man accused of setting the fire that killed two Toledo firefighters, Stephen Machcinski and Jamie Dickman, was in court Friday.
In a new turn in the case, Ray Abou-Arab and his attorneys are trying to get some of the statements he made during his interrogation with police thrown out. The defense wants to prove their client was denied access to an attorney.
In court Friday it was revealed that at one point an attorney representing Abou-Arab called the police department and asked to speak with the detective interrogating him. The detective testified that she did not return the attorney's call right away since the interrogation was underway.
At another point, on the day Abou-Arab was at the police station, he said, "I think I want to call my lawyer." Sergeant Laurie Renz, who was questioning him at the time, testified that she continued with questioning Abou-Arab because he didn't say he definitely wanted to call his attorney.
"He said 'I think.' It was not definite to me," Sgt. Renz said. "Then I said, 'Do you want to continue to talk to me?' and he said, 'Yes, I definitely want to be forthcoming,' and then seven minutes later we went over Miranda Rights."
The judge has not made a ruling as to if the evidence will be thrown out. Another hearing has been scheduled for the middle of August. The trial is still set for October.
