A former Atlanta police officer pleaded not guilty Thursday to murdering a woman in Hapeville, Tom Clegg, one of his attorneys, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tahreem Zeus Rana waived his appearance before Fulton County Superior Court Shawn LaGrua – and the television cameras — at his arraignment.
He is accused of murdering Veronica Woodard last summer and setting her body on fire. She had been shot twice in the head.
Investigators linked the killing to Rana through the woman’s phone records, Hapeville Police Chief Richard Glavosek said.
A Fulton County grand jury indicted Rana Nov. 21 on charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence, violation of oath, pandering and weapons offenses.
Woodard’s burning body was discovered in a city-owned dumping ground in Hapeville on August 22. She had been shot twice in the head.
Rana was arrested by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents while awaiting a flight to Mexico.
Rana, who police said met Woodard on Craigslist, told investigators that he had been using the website to arrange sex for six to eight months. Authorities have released few other details regarding any motive for the killing.
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