ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996               TAG: 9601260088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-3  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: FAIRFAX

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF SETTING POLICE OFFICER ON FIRE

A jury, rejecting an insanity defense, found an Iraqi immigrant guilty Thursday of attempted capital murder and malicious burning in a fiery attack on a Fairfax County police officer.

Salar Karim, 33, will be sentenced in March. The jury recommended a 25-year sentence for the attempted murder conviction and five years on the other charge. He could have faced two life terms.

Officer Stephen Needels and two other Fairfax officers went to Karim's apartment May 1 to while investigating a threatening phone call placed to the White House.

As Needels stood in the doorway, Karim threw a bucket of gasoline toward the officer.

Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Horan told jurors that Karim then lit the gasoline.

Needels, 30, suffered second- and third-degree burns on his face, arm and legs.

- Associated Press

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