| For Immediate Release Case # 07HF0324
May 7, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SON FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING GIRLFRIEND AFTER ARGUMENT OVER METHAMPHETAMINE
WITH 3-MONTH-OLD BABY IN ROOM
*Father faces trial for helping son flee after the murder
SANTA ANA – An Irvine man faces trial today for shooting and murdering his girlfriend in a room with her 3-month-old baby after she refused to give him drugs. Anton Naimat, 21, Irvine, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. He has a prior 2006 conviction for possession of methamphetamine. Anton Naimat faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison if convicted of all counts.
Anton Naimat’s father, Tassawur Naimat, 56, Irvine, is charged with one felony count of being an accessory after the fact and faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison if convicted. Opening statements for Naimat and Naimat are expected to begin this morning in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
In January 2007, Anton Naimat began living in a spare room in his father, Tassawur Naimat’s, Irvine apartment with his girlfriend Nicole Villareal and Villareal’s 3-month-old baby. Tassawur Naimat also had a roommate living in the apartment.
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 8, 2007, Anton Naimat is accused of going into his bedroom with Villareal while his father and the other roommate were in the living room. The defendant is accused of having an argument with Villareal after the victim refused to give Anton Naimat methamphetamine. Anton Naimat is accused of going into the bathroom, getting a gun, walking out and shooting the victim one time on the head. Villareal’s 3-month-old baby was strapped into a baby seat in the bedroom when the victim was shot.
Anton Naimat is accused of leaving the bedroom and fleeing the apartment with Tassawur Naimat. The roommate found Villareal on the floor and called 9-1-1. Anton Naimat was arrested at approximately 3:10 a.m. on February 9, 2007, after Irvine police officers found him at a friend’s home.
Villareal died a week later at Western Medical Center. The baby was placed in foster care.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.