A man convicted of murdering a Delta flight attendant in 1995 is once again trying to get a judge to grant him a new trial.
It’s the second time Waseem Daker has tried for a new trial after the key witness claimed she lied on the stand during his original trial.
In 2012, a jury found Daker guilty of killing Karmen Smith, 30, and stabbing her 5-year-old son Nick 18 times. Nick survived the attack and took the stand at Daker's original sentencing hearing. Daker received a life sentence plus 47 years.
Daker, who is representing himself, subpoenaed more than a dozen people to testify at a hearing, including the Cobb County District Attorney and Channel 2’s Cobb County bureau chief Ross Cavitt.
Tuesday, Daker tried to make a case in front of a Cobb County judge that the assistant district attorney made prejudicial statements to the media and therefore, he should be granted a new trial.
"I've said you're a psychopath on numerous occasions to include closing arguments," said ADA Jesse Evans. “He's a brilliant individual, which makes him brilliantly scary."
Evans admitted to making such statements, but testified all interviews were conducted after Daker’s conviction.
More than a half dozen witnesses did not appear in court and filed motions to quash. On that list, and present at the hearing was Cobb County DA Victor Reynolds, who was a magistrate judge at the time.
The judge scolded Daker several times for wasting time and his ability to manage the courts time.
Daker was sent back to jail without knowing if he’ll get a new trial. The judge did not set a date for her ruling.
