Armored-car murder trial slated to go to jury today

Mustafa Ali hasn't had much to celebrate lately, despite having turned 39 years old this past Friday. As early as today, the Northeast Philadelphia man could learn his fate for ambushing two armored-car guards on Oct. 4, 2007.

If a Common Pleas Court jury convicts Ali of first-degree - or premeditated - murder, the panel would then be asked to sentence him to either death by lethal injection or life in state prison with no chance of parole.

If the jurors convict him of second-degree murder - a killing committed in the commission of another felony - Ali's sentence would automatically be life without parole.

Closing arguments in the case are expected this morning, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Since testimony began Feb. 1, Assistant District Attorney Michael Barry has sought to convince the jury that Ali, in premeditated fashion, stalked the three-man Loomis armored-car crew before opening fire just after 8 a.m. as guards Joseph Alullo, 54, and William Widmaier, 65, serviced a drive-through ATM at the Roosevelt Mall Wachovia Bank.

Barry also argued that Ali attempted to murder armored-car driver Joseph Walczak, who was injured by broken glass when a bullet hit the window near his seat.

Walczak, now 72, testified during the trial but could not identify Ali as the shooter. That fact was of little consequence, as Ali made a full confession to police the day after the attacks.

Barry showed the jury a video of the double slaying in slow motion and in real time to bolster his contention that Ali's actions amounted to a cold-blooded double murder worthy of being deemed an execution.

The defense team, which includes three public defenders, argued that Ali intended only to rob the guards, but panicked and began firing his handgun only when Alullo drew his gun.

The defense, which began its case on Friday, called a crime-scene expert who testified about his belief that the bullet which hit the truck window injuring Walczak was fired by Alullo - not Ali.

If the jury believes that Ali attempted to kill Walczak, that could help Barry win a death sentence.

Ali, who at the time of the slayings worked as an electrical technician in Trenton and ran his own janitorial company, according to testimony from homicide detective Timothy Bass, has not testified on his own behalf.

Whether he will do so today could not be learned because Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart has placed a gag order on trial participants.