(13 Aug 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Long shot of serial stabbings suspect Elias Abuelazam walking into courtroom for hearing, saying his name in microphone
2. Close of Abuelazam SOUNDBITE (English) Elias Abuelazam, serial stabbings suspect:
"My understanding is that you are giving me the chance to choose to face this case here or in Michigan."
(Judge: No, you're going to face the case in Michigan. All we're doing is talking about extradition.)
"What does extradition mean, exactly? I don't understand the exact word for it."
(Judge: Well, extradition means you can require that the Governor of Michigan sends an extradition warrant to you down here to me requiring your return to Michigan. That takes some time. That takes about three months. You'll be sitting in the Fulton County Jail while that takes place. Or in the alternative, you can waive that right and say, 'I'm willing to go back to Michigan now and fight.' And I'll make them come and pick you up within 15 business days.)
"OK, all right, then I'll do so... I mean, why should I wait 90 days, right?"
(Judge: Well, that's up for you to decide.)
"I mean, that's the most common sense, it sounds more logical to go right now than waiting three months, correct?"
(Judge: Sounds that way to me. All right, so that's what you want to do? All right, sir. Good luck to you.)
3. Abuelazam walks out of courtroom
STORYLINE
The suspect in a three-state stabbing spree that left five people dead and 13 others wounded agreed on Friday to return to Michigan to face charges in one of the attacks.
33-year-old Elias Abuelazam was arrested Wednesday night in Atlanta before a flight to Israel, his native country, and charged with attempted murder in a July 27 knife strike in Flint that put the victim in a hospital for a week. Authorities said more charges were expected in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.
Abuelazam, wearing a blue prison outfit, was expressionless as he responded to questions from Judge Richard Hicks during a brief hearing in Atlanta court on Friday morning.
Abuelazam first told Hicks he wanted to stay in Georgia and face the charges, but Hicks told him he would have to return to Michigan if he wanted to fight them.
After Hicks explained the process further, Abuelazam agreed to waive an extradition fight, a process that could take months, and go back to Michigan.
"All right, then I'll do so," he said. "It sounds more logical to go right now than in 90 days."
But moments after the hearing ended, Abuelazam's attorney called Fulton County Superior Court to say that he had just landed in Atlanta and wanted to appear before the judge with his client, according to Don Plummer, court spokesman.
The attorney, who was not identified, said he wanted to meet with his client first, Plummer said. Hicks agreed to the request and scheduled another hearing for Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police said Abuelazam was also a suspect in a stabbing attack in Israel earlier this year, but charges were never pressed.
A senior police commander said he was believed to have stabbed a close acquaintance during an argument in a parked car in central Israel about six months ago.
The commander says police dropped the case because the victim refused to cooperate with investigators.
The commander spoke on condition of anonymity because he was barred from speaking to the media under official policy.
The Flint stabbings started in May, shortly after Abuelazam is believed to have returned to the US from Israel.
The attacks began in Flint in late spring. The others were in Leesburg, Virginia, and Toledo, Ohio. In one case, the attacker used a hammer.
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