Testimony begins in Ibraheem Yazeed capital murder trial
Testimony is now underway in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed, the Montgomery man charged with kidnapping and killing 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard in 2019.
Today, ten witnesses were called to give their statements about the night of October 23, 2019, the night that Blanchard, a student at Southern Union Community College, was abducted from a gas station in Auburn.
Among the witnesses was Aniah’s brother, Elijah Blanchard. He was very emotional as he recounted his sister’s last moments with him and the search for her the day after her disappearance.
Also, her roommate gave details about the messages she was sent by Aniah the night she was abducted, with her roommate being the last person Aniah ever contacted.
The jury saw video from the gas station where she was last seen alive.
Blanchard was from Homewood and was the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris.
After she disappeared, a massive search was launched for her, which got national attention. Prosecutors say evidence shows Yazeed was in the gas station at the same time she was abducted.
Her car was found at an apartment complex in Montgomery with blood inside.
Her body was later found in woods in Macon County, about a month after her disappearance. Evidence showed that she had been shot in the head.
Yazeed was arrested in Florida. He has a lengthy criminal history.
Yazeed was out on bail at the time of Blanchard’s death. That led the Legislature to pass, and Alabama voters to approve, “Aniah’s Law,” which limits the granting of bail for certain offenses.
Yazeed faces three capital counts:
Capital Murder during a kidnapping
Capital Murder during a robbery
Capital Murder involving a victim’s vehicle
The trial is expected to last about two weeks. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Yazeed is convicted.
