Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509110034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nazrini was convicted of shooting in the city, a misdemeanor, for firing a shot last February during a confrontation with a customer who came into his Hype City store, demanding a refund for two pairs of blue jeans that didn't fit.
The jury acquitted Nazrini of brandishing a firearm and a more serious charge of attempted malicious wounding.
During his two-day trial in Roanoke Circuit Court, Nazrini portrayed himself as a hard-working merchant who was just trying to protect himself, his family and his business from an irate, 300-plus-pound man who became more and more threatening as he searched for a pair of pants that would fit him.
"I'm a very patient and very sweet person," Nazrini told the jury, explaining how he exchanged the pants Juan Harris had bought for a larger pair, only to have him barge into the Williamson Road store the next day demanding a refund.
When Harris began to curse Nazrini's wife and make threatening movements, Nazrini said, he went for a .22-caliber handgun he kept behind the counter. "The best way of defending is attacking," he said.
After ordering Harris out of the store, Nazrini said, he followed him outside and fired a shot in the air when Harris did not leave the parking lot immediately.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Gardner argued that it was "not a case of self-defense, but a case of dispute resolution. And what he did is settle his dispute with a gun."
Defense attorney Jack Altizer had argued that Nazrini was only trying to protect his business and his family. "To me, this man deserves a medal for what he did," Altizer said.
Instead, the jury gave him a $2,000 fine.
by CNB