Former Basketball Player Convicted in Irvine Stabbing

A one-time member of Afghanistan's national basketball team was convicted Friday of attempted murder and aggravated assault for stabbing a former El Toro High School standout basketball player during a fight at an Irvine party.

Abdullah Wahidi contended the stabbing was in self-defense, with his attorney arguing that the victim was on top of his client during the brawl and threatened him by saying, "I've got you now."

Wahidi, 25, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 3. He faces about 10 years behind bars before being eligible for parole, Deputy District Attorney Aleta Bryant said.

Wahidi stabbed then-20-year-old Concordia University basketball player Andre Murillo in the early morning hours of April 26, 2009.

Murillo, who lives in Mission Viejo, said he has recovered and is getting ready to play his senior year as power forward at Biola University.

"I am really doing well. I've got most of my lung capacity back," Murillo said.

He added that he was relieved his attacker was convicted.

"I am really relieved, and the truth came out in this case, and for that I am thankful," Murillo said. "I always admitted I could be a real knucklehead back then, but I did nothing to warrant getting stabbed."

Murillo said he found religion about a year and a half after the attack and prays that Wahidi can do the same.

"I do hope he finds redemption, grace and salvation in all of this," Murillo said.

Bryant said Wahidi stared down Murillo at a party they both attended at an Irvine townhouse, and Wahidi eventually bumped Murillo. The two went outside, and Wahidi went "running into the fight, not away from it," the prosecutor said.

Wahidi stabbed Murillo during the ensuing brawl, leaving the victim with a collapsed lung, according to Bryant.

But Wahidi's attorney, Kerry Armstrong, contended Murillo was drunk and under the influence of drugs at the time. He said Murillo was the aggressor in the fight, and Wahidi feared that Murillo's friends might join in the brawl when he was on the ground.

Armstrong said he was "very disappointed" in the verdicts.

"I've come to really like Mr. Wahidi. He comes from a good family," the attorney said.

Jurors, who began deliberating this morning and reached a decision about 3 p.m., also found true sentence-enhancing allegations of premeditated attempted murder, personal infliction of great bodily injury and personal use of a deadly weapon.

-- City News Service