Bail on Iraqi Man Charged in Murder Set at $5 Million

Bail was set at $5 million Friday for a 20-year-old Iraqi man from El Cajon charged with murdering a teen-ager and wounding another at a party in La Mesa.

Nadir Jamil Mikhail pleaded not guilty before San Diego Municipal Judge Larry Stirling, who set the high bail following a recommendation from the prosecutor.

Mikhail had been a fugitive since the shooting last Saturday at a home in La Mesa, but he surrendered Thursday night to police.

He is charged with killing Robbie Loftis, 19, of Lemon Grove, and trying to murder Charles Hall, 19, of Spring Valley, who was shot in the arm and leg.

Investigators have said the shooting had nothing to do with the war in the Persian Gulf.

Mikhail’s attorney, Jan Ronis, alluded to his client’s ancestry by saying “there’s a certain amount of emotionalism surrounded the case concerning international incidents.”

Ronis told Stirling that the $5-million recommendation by Deputy Dist. Atty. Les Dubow was too high, and suggested $300,000.

“It’s correct that immediately following this incident, Mr. Mikhail did not immediately surrender,” said Ronis.

Dubow told the judge that someone had called Mikhail to the party at a La Mesa house on his beeper, and that Mikhail was asked to disperse some party crashers.

“The defendant pulls out a gun, which means he came to that party with a gun,” said Dubow.

“The defendant fled after the shooting. He has a prior failure to appear (in court),” said the prosecutor.

Ronis said some of the shots were fired in the air.

“This is truly an accidental shooting,” said the defense attorney.

Stirling noted that it was he who had issued a $5-million warrant for Mikhail’s arrest after the D.A.’s office filed a murder charge.

“It appears that bail at $5 million is reasonable, until the bail review,” said Stirling.

Ronis said he will try to present family witnesses for his client at the bail review hearing set for Feb. 7.

Ronis said the defendant’s two brothers, sister, aunts, and uncles live in the area, but his parents live in Detroit. Stirling scheduled a preliminary hearing for Feb. 25.