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Nouman Raja's request for house arrest modification denied

Posted at 7:26 AM, Jan 26, 2017
and last updated 2019-03-07 10:14:09-05

The former Palm Beach Gardens police officer accused of killing a local musician was denied by a judge to have his house arrest modified during a Thursday hearing.

RELATED: More Corey Jones coverage

Nouman Raja has been on house arrest since he was charged in June in connection with the 2015 fatal shooting of Corey Jones.  

 

In a motion filed Friday, Raja sought to alter the terms of his house arrest to attend an event at his daughter's school. If granted, this wouldn't be the first time Raja's house arrest was altered. 

At the hearing, Corey Jones' stepmother addressed the court and called Raja a criminal and murderer. 

State attorneys asked the court to deny Raja's request because they believe he is taking advantage of his house arrest situation. 

The judge agreed with prosecutors and said it could create a slippery slope if the house arrest modification was granted. 

Raja’s defense attorney, Richard Lubin, said now is not the time for punishment. “It was disappointing and I wouldn’t have made the request if I didn’t think it was appropriate."

Now the attention turns to the hundreds of documents and files of discovery, including the AT&T roadside call that recorded the fatal encounter that night. Lubin told me the public has a legal right to see the information. However, he made it very clear that there is presumption of innocence in our legal system.

“I would just urge people not to make up their minds on what the newspapers say or what TV says but to wait until all the facts come out,” said Lubin.

Raja has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge said she would like to set a trial in the case for this summer.

In December, Raja was allowed to be in his backyard and on his patio, for one day only, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The next court hearing in the case has been set for March.