News Summary
The trial for Abdullah Seifullah, accused of murdering Coastal Carolina University student David Roldan-Dimas, has commenced, shocking the local community. Roldan-Dimas was shot and killed shortly after leaving a gym. The prosecution has presented several witnesses, while the defense critiques the emotional nature of the case. Roldan-Dimas, a promising business administration major, was remembered for his ambitions and the tragedy that has impacted his family and friends. The trial is expected to reveal more details of the incident that took a young life too soon.
Conway, South Carolina – The trial for Abdullah Seifullah, accused of murdering Coastal Carolina University student David Roldan-Dimas, commenced this week in a case that shocked the local community. Roldan-Dimas, 20, was shot and killed on June 19, 2023, after leaving a gym in Carolina Forest, following a 13-hour work shift on his first day of summer break. He was murdered in the parking lot shortly after getting into his black Chevrolet Camaro.
The trial, nearly two years after the tragic incident, has begun with opening arguments from both the prosecution and defense. Seifullah, 45, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, faces charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and criminal conspiracy. Alongside him, Branden Huertas, another individual implicated in the case, has already pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder and is scheduled for sentencing at the conclusion of Seifullah’s trial.
The prosecution has presented five witnesses, including Roldan-Dimas’ girlfriend, Isabella Lima, who was among the last to see him alive. Testimony from Lima and her brother described the emotional aftermath of the incident, as they initially believed Roldan-Dimas was simply resting in his vehicle before discovering he had been shot. Witnesses in the courtroom, such as Selda and Berbarin Letaj, recounted their accounts of the shooting, while Daryl Detrick, owner of a nearby car wash, shared security camera footage showing a suspect fleeing the scene after the gunfire.
Roldan-Dimas, a business administration major, was taking summer classes with the ambition of graduating early. His potential and ambition were highlighted during the trial by Assistant Solicitor George Henry Martin, who emphasized the profound impact of his death on family, friends, and the university community. Conversely, defense attorney Johnny Gardner has criticized the prosecution for relying too heavily on emotional appeals rather than focusing on legal facts surrounding the case.
On the night of the shooting, David Roldan-Dimas had met Lima and her brother at the Planet Fitness located at 1049 Glenforest Road, where they spent time before he departed in his car. After his failure to respond to multiple calls, Lima and her brother returned to the gym, only to be met by police and discover the devastating news of Roldan-Dimas’ death. Initially, the couple mistook Roldan-Dimas’ stillness for sleep, unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded.
As the trial progresses, testimonies from witnesses are expected to reveal more details of the events leading up to Roldan-Dimas’ untimely demise. The community of Coastal Carolina University and the broader local area continue to reflect on the loss of a young life filled with promise. The trial will seek to determine the facts surrounding this incident and ultimately provide justice for Roldan-Dimas and his grieving family.
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Additional Resources
- Myrtle Beach Online
- WMBF News
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- Wikipedia: Murder in the United States
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