Closing arguments scheduled in trial of former University of Arizona grad student accused of killing a professor

In Tucson, Arizona, a former University of Arizona graduate student named Murad Dervish is on trial for killing a professor on campus two years ago. The professor, Thomas Meixner, was shot nine times near his office and died at a Tucson hospital. Dervish, who is 48 years old, faces seven felony charges, including first-degree murder. His defense attorney claims that the killing was not planned and that Dervish should be found "guilty except insane" for second-degree murder, using an insanity defense. Thomas Meixner was the head of the university's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences and was an expert on desert water issues. Dervish was studying in the master's degree program in atmospheric sciences within the same department. Dervish had been banned from the school and later expelled due to ongoing issues with professors after receiving a bad grade. A criminal complaint revealed that Dervish had been barred from school property and was the subject of reports of harassment and threats to staff members. Witnesses reported that Dervish wore a surgical mask and a baseball cap as a disguise when he shot the professor outside his office on October 5, 2022. Dervish was arrested by Arizona state troopers more than 120 miles northwest of Tucson, where a loaded 9mm handgun was found in his car, matching the ammunition used in the shooting. The trial's closing arguments are set for Monday, with the defense claiming the killing was not premeditated, while prosecutors argue that Dervish planned the shooting and was aware of his actions.