Saad, Accused of Lethal Punch in Soccer Ref's Death, Bound Over for Trial

A Wayne County Circuit Court judge on Thursday bound Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad over for trial and told him that he should have known that a punch he threw at a soccer referee who was about to eject him from a June 29 rec-league match could be fatal.

Saad, 36, of Dearborn is charged with second-degree murder in the death of John Bieniewicz, who he allegedly “sucker punched” because he was angry about the call. The 44-year-old husband and father of two never regained consciousness.

Judge Kathleen McCann had strong words for Saad at the conclusion of a two-day preliminary examination, the Detroit Free Press reports.

“Mr. Saad approached Mr. Bieniewicz without provocation and struck him with such vehemence that he had to know, anyone should know in this day and age that it could cause death,” McCann said.

“There is no, no situation where we can believe that you can punch someone unaware and not expect that there will be a result that is not going to cause death,” the judge continued. “You just can’t do that, so in this case I am binding over on this charge.”

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The state heard from multiple witnesses in the case, which garnered global attention and sympathy for Bieniewicz’s family, who include his widow, Kris, and two sons, ages 9 and 13.

Dr. Chantel Njiwaji of the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office testified Thursday – the only witness called that day – and she said that of 500 autopsies she had conducted in her career, she had never seen a similar injury. The blow was inflicted with such force that the arteries around the base of his skull were torn and twisted, Njiwaji said.

Among the witnesses testifying Wednesday was Livonia Police Officer Dennis Burklow, who was asked to enhance a photograph of Saad fleeing with a teammate in a Jeep after the attack.

“It appears his right arm is extended with his middle finger extended,” Burklow testified, according to a report in The Detroit News.

Three witnesses to the attack also testified Wednesday.

The prosecution sought to introduce evidence about an incident in 2005 in which Saad allegedly struck a soccer player in the back of the head several times.

During the proceeding, Saad’s attorney, Ali Hammoud of Dearborn, said manslaughter was a more appropriate charge and the confrontation occurred so quickly that his client didn’t have time to consider the consequences of his actions.

“Was it justified? No. Was it stupid? absolutely,” Hammoud said. “... He intended to hit the referee pure and simple assault like we see in everyday life. He never in his wildest dream imagined, or anyone on that field, Mr. Bieniewicz was going to die.”

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Raj Prasad said the judge’s decision to bind Saad over for trial on second-degree murder charges was correct.

“This was an extremely violent act by the defendant, and what makes this more than just simply a punch at that point and what makes this an intent to commit great bodily harm is that this defendant chose to do so in a moment of complete and utter surprise, Prasad said. “ ... We’re at a soccer game, we’re at a friendly competition in which violence is not the norm.”

Saad, who will be formally arraigned on Aug. 7, reportedly kept his head down during the two-day exam, occasionally wiping his face and eyes.

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PHOTO: Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad, 36, of Dearborn will be formally arraigned on second-degree murder charges on Aug. 7.