Murder Trial for Killer of Moroccan Immigrant Adil Dghoughi Begins in US

Rabat – Jury selection has begun for the murder trial of Terry Turner, who fatally shot Moroccan immigrant Adil Dghoughi on October 11, 2021.

On Tuesday, Turner will finally stand trial at the Caldwell County Justice Center where Adil’s family will also attend.

The case received widespread media coverage in 2021, from outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Guardian, mainly due to the troubling details surrounding Dghoughi’s death.

Turner was allowed to remain free for a staggering 10 days after the shooting, with no warrant issued for his arrest until the case garnered national media attention, triggering widespread anger and accusations of bias and unequal treatment within the criminal justice system.

Turner’s bond, once he was eventually arrested, was set at $150,000, significantly less than the bond amount imposed on another Caldwell County resident who had confessed to killing their husband the previous month.

Turner’s quick release from Caldwell County jail after less than two hours, without any conditions attached to his bond, also added to public anger.

The injustice surrounding this case extends beyond these procedural issues. Adil Dghoughi’s family has expressed concerns about the fairness of the criminal justice process and law enforcement’s treatment of them.

They have reported that the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office victim assistance office never contacted them, requiring them to initiate contact in search of answers.

Dghoughi’s girlfriend, Sarah Todd, revealed that despite her numerous attempts to reach out to detectives, she received no answers.

The family said they felt that as victims, law enforcement should have communicated with them.

Meanwhile, detectives asked personal questions about the victim, such as his drinking habits and temper, which seemed insensitive to the grieving family. They also obtained warrants to access Adil’s Facebook and Google information, treating him like a criminal rather than a victim.

Advocacy groups like Mano Amiga have spoken out against the injustice in Adil’s case. Nataly Avendano, Immigration Coordinator with Mano Amiga, emphasized the discrepancy in bond amounts between Turner and people of color, calling for a fair trial and justice for the immigrant community.

“Terry Turner shot and killed Adil, and yet was given a low bond amount compared to what people of color often receive, allowing him the privilege to bond out within 2 hours,” Avendano said.

He continued: “Immigrants are often afraid to speak out against crimes they experience due to fear of enduring treatment similar to what the Dghoughi family experienced – as though Adil was a criminal instead of the victim.”

“We must stand in solidarity with Adil’s family to ensure a fair trial and that Justice doesn’t fail our immigrant community once again,” he insisted.

On his part, Sonja Villalobos, Mayor Pro Tem of Martindale, has steadily supported the family since the tragedy occurred, saying: “I stand in solidarity with you during this difficult time as you will be able to see the man who shot and killed Adil in a Court of Law.”

“May he be reminded of the life he cut short as Terry Turner was the judge and jury that morning and sentenced Adil to death for being in his driveway,” he lamented.