The trial for the Ansonia police officer charged with stealing a garden hose from the department in May 2008 will begin Monday morning at Superior Court in Derby.
Mustafa Salahuddin issued a statement before the jury was selected last week, saying he looks forward to the trial.
“I look forward to a jury of my peers seeing all of the evidence in this case and returning what I know will be a carefully contemplated verdict,” Salahuddin wrote. “I would like to thank all of the many people who have stood by me and supported me through what has been a difficult ordeal for both me and my family.”
He was charged with sixth-degree larceny for the incident.
Salahuddin has claimed that he had been repeatedly retaliated against by the department because of his race and his religion.
Salahuddin is a black Muslim.
Throughout the ordeal, Police Chief Kevin Hale has defended the investigation of the garden hose theft, and has denied that it was racially or personally motivated.
Salahuddin’s attorney, Rob Serafinowicz, said the jury is made up of three men and three women.
The judge presiding over the trial will be Eddie Rodriguez, Jr., of the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District.
Serafinowicz expected the trial to be complete by Wednesday, March 17.
Good luck Mustafa. You have not been treated in a fair way by the city of Ansonia or Hale.
I am furious and disgusted that the Ansonia Police Department created this situation out of racial and religious prejudice. Anyone with an ounce of sense realizes that Officer Salahuddin did not steal city property, and that the Police Department is making this ridiculous claim to get rid of a good officer because somebody feels threatened by his background and culture. I am an Ansonia resident who is neither black nor Muslim, and I am ashamed of our Police Department. I can only hope that Officer Salahuddin is treated fairly by the court.