Jholie Moussa Murder Case Heading To Trial

A judge in Fairfax County juvenile court determined the case of Mount Vernon teen Jholie Moussa's murder can go to trial before a jury. New details about how the killing unfolded were shared in testimony during a preliminary hearing Friday, Nov. 16.

Nebiyu Ebrahim, 18, was originally charged with first-degree murder as a juvenile, but the judge ruled he faces trial as an adult and could get up to life in prison, The Washington Post reported.

During the preliminary hearing, a Fairfax County detective testified that Ebrahim, then 17, admitted to strangling 16-year-old Moussa multiple times in Woodlawn Park. The detective spoke about how Moussa and Ebrahim had an argument, leading him to choke her. The ex-boyfriend claimed he moved her body and covered it with leaves.

Moussa had been reported missing on Jan. 13. Police found her body in Woodlawn Park on Jan. 25. The medical examiner ruled the cause of Moussa's death to be asphyxia by smothering and blunt force trauma.

Before police charged Ebrahim with Moussa's murder, he was convicted for a previous strangling of Moussa. After serving his assault sentence, he was arrested and reportedly admitted to the murder.

Images of Moussa (left) and Ebrahim via Fairfax County Police