enterprise THE DAVIS
SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2023
looks Stabbing suspect pleads not guilty Neville headed to Judge denies bail at arraignment
victory in council race
By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy
WOODLAND — The former UC Davis student suspected of killing two people and wounding a third in a nearly weeklong stabbing spree pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that could bring the death penalty. Wearing what appeared to be a protective smock used for inmates on suicide watch, 21-year-old Carlos Reales Dominguez stood with his eyes downcast as Yolo Superior Court Judge Daniel Wolk read the four-page complaint prosecutors filed that morning, charging him with two counts of premeditated murder and one count of premeditated attempted murder, all of which carry enhancements for use of a deadly weapon. Dominguez also faces the special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which if found true makes him eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said it would decide whether to pursue
Enterprise staff writer
hearing but declined to speak with reporters. Prosecuting attorney Matt De Moura also declined comment, as did Deputy Public Defender Dan Hutchinson, who accepted the
Donna Neville appears to have won the special election for the District 3 seat on the Davis City Council, though results are not yet final as the Yolo County Elections Office will still count ballots that were received via the postal service by 5 p.m. on Friday. As of Friday morning, there was just one uncounted ballot, however, and Neville had a 491-vote lead over Francesca Wright. A total of 2,319 votes had been counted through the end of Thursday and Neville had received 60.59 percent of them, to Wright’s 39.41 percent. Neville is a member of the Davis Planning Commission and previously chaired the city’s Budget and Finance Commission. She has also been active in other roles in the community, including Yolo NAMI, a school district bond oversight committee, and more. Wright has also been actively involved in city issues, particularly through her work on public safety reform through Yolo People Power.
See SUSPECT, Page A4
See COUNCIL, Page A4
Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo
Davis double-homicide suspect Carlos Dominguez, left, confirms his name to the judge during his arraignment hearing Friday. At right is Deputy Public Defender Daniel Hutchinson. capital punishment “at a later date.” Another case enhancement says Dominguez’s alleged crimes “involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty,
viciousness, or callousness.” After appointing the public defender’s office to represent Dominguez, Wolk denied bail in the case and set a pre-hearing conference for 9 a.m. May 22. Several members of Dominguez’s family attended the brief
Hundreds come out to honor victim at UC Davis By Monica Stark Enterprise staff writer Hundreds of friends, family, and UC Davis community members remembered the life of UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm on Friday afternoon at a public memorial held on campus at the International Center. Abou Najm was born to Majdi Abou Najm and Nadine Yehya in Lebanon. Before moving to the US in 2018, he attended International College in Beirut, Lebanon. He joined Davis Senior High School and graduated with high honors before getting accepted to UC Davis. Karim was six
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Business �����������A3 Forum �����������������B2 Op-Ed �����������������B3 Classifieds ���������A4 Living �����������������B4 Sports ���������������B1 Comics ���������������B5 Obituaries ���������A5 The Wary I ���������A2
weeks away from graduating with honors with a bachelor’s in computer science. While in college, he was also a full-time software engineer and interned at multiple companies. Abou Najm was working on a program that would help the hearing impaired in noisy environments. UCD and Abou Najm’s family have honored him by setting up a scholarship in his memory. While the initial goal was $50,000, $87,000 had been raised from 731 donors by Friday afternoon. Known as a compassionate, smart, and caring young man, Abou Najm was a son, brother and grandson.
WEATHER Today: Sunny and warmer. High 69. Low 47.
Family friend Sara Alayli set the stage for Abou Najm’s parents by asking NAJM those who Remembered have Friday known Abou Najm personally to hold up their cell phones with the flashlights on. “Parents, please look around,” Alayli said. As she asked similar questions, hands raised to the sky, ending with the statement, “If you're inspired by what Karim has done in his legacy, and everything that you've heard of him in the past
sweet and past 20 years.” “Now look around,” she said, “In one way or another, he has touched all of it.” Speakers cited his accomplishments. He took pride in helping others from lessons he learned through his studies and work. He mentored undergraduate computer science students and onboarded student researchers to Miller Lab at UC Davis. He always gave a shoutout to his colleagues and supported them in finding opportunities on campus and beyond. Abou Najm’s father, Majdi Abou Najm, regretted not telling his son how much he loved him. “One of
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my biggest regrets is that we did not express our feelings enough. I'm stuck in a loop staring every time I saw Karim in the last two weeks. Forgive me, Karim: Why I said ‘I love you many times to you in my mind, I did not say it out loud to you.’” Majdi Abou Najm had those in attendance at the memorial take out their phones and call their loved ones to tell them they loved them. “Take it from that devastated father; don't take love for granted.” Speaking directly to the family, UCD Chancellor Gary S. May stated that nothing can ease the pain
See HONOR, Page A5
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