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A Millbrae murder defendant who recently returned from a state mental hospital will stand trial in October on charges he shot an acquaintance and left the body inside a car parked on a residential Burlingame street.
Teyseer Zaid “Terry” Najdawi, 28, has pleaded not guilty to murder and gun charges in the death of Jack Chu, 27. He is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly attacking his cellmate at the Maguire Correctional Facility and felony fraud for allegedly stealing his brother’s credit card for use the night of the murder and while evading police afterward.
On Friday, a judge scheduled trial for Oct. 31.
Chu’s body was found slumped in a car at the intersection of Chula Vista and Sanchez avenues and connected to an early-morning shooting reported July 8, 2008 in Millbrae. Chu reportedly had been in the driver’s seat when shot nearly a dozen times in the head. Authorities assume the shooter pushed Chu’s body aside and drove the car away. Authorities say the men had been drinking together that night but further motive remains unclear. A week later, police apprehended Najdawi at a Redding motel.
On Sept. 14, 2008, while in custody, Najdawi’s case grew after sheriff’s deputies reportedly found him beating and strangling his cellmate.
On May 15, 2009, a judge found Najdawi incompetent based on the reports of four court-appointed doctors and sent him to Napa. He returned to San Mateo County for prosecution earlier this month.
Najdawi remains in custody without bail.
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