Former U of AZ Student Sentenced to Life for Killing Professor

In a tragic turn of events, a former University of Arizona graduate student, Murad Dervish, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of hydrology professor Thomas Meixner. The incident occurred on campus, where Meixner was shot 11 times near his office on October 5, 2022. Dervish, who had been expelled from the university months prior due to ongoing issues with professors after receiving a bad grade, was also convicted on five other felony counts, including aggravated assault. During the trial, Dervish's attorney argued that his client was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the shooting and advocated for a lesser charge of second-degree murder that could have led to confinement in a psychiatric hospital. However, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Dervish had planned Meixner's killing, as he had purchased a 9mm handgun a month before the incident. Witnesses testified that Dervish wore a disguise when he shot the professor and fled the scene, only to be apprehended by Arizona state troopers three hours later. The victim's wife, Kathleen Meixner, expressed her grief over the loss of her husband, stating that while Dervish will spend his life in prison, it does not bring back her husband. The University of Arizona mourns the loss of a respected professor, emphasizing the impact of the tragic event on the academic community. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching their verdict against Dervish, underscoring the severity of the crime and the consequences faced by the perpetrator for his actions.