09/01/05
San Jose (BCN) - Something was "terribly wrong" with Jeanine
Harms when she failed to show up for work on the last Monday in July
2001, her "oldest friend" testified today on the first day of the
preliminary examination of the man accused of murdering Harms.
Maurice Nasmeh, 41, allegedly killed Harms hours after meeting
her on July 27, 2001 at Campbell's Rock Bottom Brewery, according to
authorities.
At the conclusion of the preliminary examination, Santa Clara
County Superior Court Judge Edward Lee will decide if enough
evidence exists to try Nasmeh for murder.
Chigiy Edson-Binell, Harms' friend and landlord, testified this
morning that she last saw Harms on July 27, a Friday evening, inside
the duplex apartment Harms rented from her.
On Monday, July 30, when Harms did not show up for work, she
re-entered the apartment with a Los Gatos police officer.
"I thought something was terribly wrong," Edson-Binell said.
"The bed was made and it was exactly as she left it."
Edson-Binell also noticed that part of Harms' couch and a rug
were missing.
"The couch cushions, the couch cover and some pillows were gone
and the rug was gone," Edson-Binell said.
Harms and Nasmeh allegedly spent several hours drinking at Rock
Bottom and smoked marijuana in the parking lot with two others
before traveling to another local bar and drinking some more with
another man.
Harms and Nasmeh went to her Chirco Drive home and then to a
nearby convenience store where they bought a six-pack of beer at
approximately 11 p.m. that night.
That was the last time she was seen alive, according to court
documents.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled to last five days.
Nasmeh remains in custody.