HOUSTON – KPRC 2 found handwritten letters Athir Murady wrote to the judge as he awaits trial in the murder of Harris County Precinct 4 Corporal Maher Huesseini.
Murady has been in the Harris County Jail since September. He was captured the same day as the killing, after the killing after police say he drove a car into the open water In Galveston.
In one of the letters, Murady asks to dismiss his court appointed attorney. Another letter he wrote was hard to read, and we had trouble understanding the context behind it. At the end of a letter, he made several strange comments saying he’s not a spy and that he hopes to get a fair trial.
In a third letter, his writing remained unclear, but he again mentioned that he isn’t a spy and hopes to get a “fair lawyer.” He also asked to be relocated to Austin. Records show Murady’s attorney withdrew from the case, and he has now been appointed two different attorneys.
According to court documents, Murady has been issued a mental health evaluation. KPRC 2′s Corley Peel spoke exclusively with Murady’s brother. He asked to remain anonymous, but said his brother has battled mental health for a long time and it has gotten worse over the past several years.
Just days before Husseni’s death, he said he tried to get Murady help after he made bizarre comments about the government being after him.
“We talked to him four days before the incident and we asked to take him to a doctor, to a psychiatrist, so he can have a look at him. And he said yes. He didn’t say no, he was going to, but he was still saying the same things that they are after him. They are tapping into his phone. They took his passport. They took his guns. I mean anybody, could tell within five minutes of talking with him that he is off,” said Murady’s brother.
He said their family has a history of mental illness. Murady’s brother shared a note from 2023 where a doctor wrote that Murady suffers from Psychosis and should be under psychotic medications.
“He was not taking his medication. He was already diagnosed with being schizophrenic and he was already not sleeping for countless months,” said Murady’s brother.
Murady is accused of shaking Huesseini’s hand before shooting and killing him in his car while the corporal was on his way to work. Records show Murady and Huesseini both worked in the security industry.
“I don’t think he realized what he did. The thing is, I couldn’t help him. He was slowly sinking. I hope that the judge looks at his mental condition,” said Huesseini.
Murady’s brother said he apologizes to Huesseini’s family. Corley got in contact with Huesseni’s wife who did not wish to comment about the case.