Published: 20 April, 2012
by DAVID ST GEORGE

THE stranger alleged to have launched a deliberate and fatal attack on a respected local religious leader is due to face an Old Bailey jury trial next month.

“Man of peace” Sheikh Maymoun Zazour was only 39 and blind when he died at his office desk at the Muslim Welfare House in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, on September 2 last year.

Arrested soon afterwards close to the scene, jobless Hamza Boutouil, 24, of no fixed address, has been held in prison custody accused of murdering the cleric, whose funeral in his native Lebanon drew a crowd of thousands including two Scotland Yard detectives working on the case.

Sheikh Zazour was a popular imam and died shortly after leading a dawn prayer session on the Muslim holy day, Friday. He came to the UK in 2007 following a car bombing attempt on his life.

Boutouil is expected to appear for trial on May 14. He was expected to be in court this week. On a previous occasion he refused to leave the cells and enter the dock saying he was “in prayer”. A judge heard there were concerns about his mental state and a suggestion that he believes he is Jesus.