Nima Nassiri testifies in his murder trial

Tuesday was day two in the Nima Nassiri murder trial. Sanaz Nezami, 27, of Dollar Bay was involved in an incident with her husband, Nassiri, 34, in which she was allegedly assaulted by him, ultimately leading her to death.

Today, Houghton County Prosecutor Michael Makinen called Marquette General pathologist Dr. John Weiss to the stand, who spoke about the evidence of brain hemorrhaging that he found during the autopsy. He also spoke about his other findings.

“There were a large number of bruises, of varying ages, practically all over the body,” Dr. Weiss said.

Dr. Weiss added that he believes severe trauma led to the hemorrhaging which ultimately led to Nezami’s death.

Houghton County Sheriff’s Department Det. Sgt. Tom Rosemurgy was also called to the stand by Makinen and he showed the jury the interview between him and Nassiri. During the interview, Nassiri talked about what happened that night where he says “he lost it”.

“And then it got bad where she would be on the ground and I would take her head and just be like (gesturing), down with her hair on the back of her
head,” Nassiri said. “I kept telling her, ‘I have some issue’, and she blows it off and says, ‘I don’t believe it’ and I’m saying that something is there,” said Nassiri.

Defense attorney David Gemignani asked Sgt. Rosemurgy about the data that was extracted from the electronic devices that were found at Nassiri’s home.

“And from everything you’ve seen, that was generated before this event, there’s nothing in there that suggests that he was intending to kill this
woman, correct?” Gemignani asked.

“Correct. There was no evidence of premeditation,” Rosemurgy responded.

“There was no evidence of anything intending to hurt her, correct?” Gemignani asked.

“Not that I could see from any of the information,” Rosemurgy said.

After the prosecution rested its case, Gemignani called Nassiri to the stand and began to discuss his relationship with his wife. Nassiri says his wife was very passive about his feelings and mental instability. He says she even suggested having an open marriage, which he opposed.

He adds that she was conscious and walking as he called police and emergency personel. However, according to Nassiri, she fainted shortly after and began to vomit and becoming unresponsive. Nassiri says he did not think that what he did would lead to her death.

“At any point in time were you trying to kill her?” asked Gemignani. “No,” Nassiri responded.

“Were you trying to do great bodily harm to her?” Gemignani asked. “No,” Nassiri said.

“At any point in time did you realize what you were doing was probably going to kill her or do great bodily harm to her?” asked Gemignani. “No,” Nassiri said.

“Why did you keep asking about her?” Gemignani said. “Because I cared,” said Nassiri.

The trial is expected to last the entire week. If convicted, Nassiri could face life in prison.