HOUSTON – A Houston man who has been in jail for murder since late March was granted a personal recognizance (PR) bond on Thursday afternoon, according to court records, after Harris County prosecutors failed to indict him before the 90-day deadline.
Masiullah Sahil’s bond on the murder charge was previously set at $750,000, according to records, but Judge Emily Detoto granted the PR bond during a hearing Thursday “pursuant to mandatory law,” records state.
Sahil is accused of stabbing Abdul Niazi, a father of five, multiple times at his office in March. Family members told KPRC 2 News that Niazi is a former Afghan marine who fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan and lost the use of both his legs in battle, requiring him to use a motorized wheelchair.
According to court documents, Sahil admitted to Niazi’s wife that he stabbed and killed her husband.
Prosecutors failed to indict Sahil for murder within the 90-day deadline, and during the hearing Thursday, prosecutors couldn’t provide “any valid reason” for the delay, records state, and told the judge, “It just didn’t get done.”
“The District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the situation with the prosecutors handling the case,” a spokesperson for the DA Sean Teare’s office told KPRC 2 News.
The judge noted that at any given time, there are five grand juries sworn in who could have been presented the evidence in the case.
Even though Sahil was granted the PR bond, which would essentially release him from jail for free, prosecutors added a tampering with evidence charge on Thursday connected to the murder case, and his bond was set at $25,000.
If he posts that bond, a GPS monitor would be required, records show.
Niazi’s cousin, Rizwanullah Niazi, tells KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel he feels the state’s excuse is not good enough.
“Well, to be honest, it’s really shocking. I mean, it is terrible,” he said. “I don’t know. I mean, we trust the system, but they’re just playing with our emotions.”
Records show, the court noted that at any given time, there are five grand juries sworn in per term. And Texas has hundreds of prosecutors and support staff… yet the state didn’t have sufficient reason for why they failed to indict Sahil.
Niazi’s family said he relied on a wheelchair because he lost both his legs while in combat. Niazi had been helping him with his refugee paperwork. Sahil admitted to police he was frustrated with how long it was taking. He’s accused of stabbing Niazi 20 times. Surveillance video showed Sahil entering Niazi’s office building and leaving, while covered in blood.
Niazi’s cousin said that after the killing, Sahil called Niazi’s wife, confessing to the crime. Niazi’s cousin feels the state had plenty of evidence to indict Sahil.
“This is my question: who will be responsible if the guy is released and comes back and kills someone else?” said Niazi.
