US prosecutor drops case against Saudi national

Charges against a Saudi national accused of paying his roommate to kill a bar owner were dropped today after information from a critical witness changed, leaving the state with insufficient evidence to prosecute him.
Ziyad Abid, 24, has been jailed since September 5 on first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. His case gained national attention when Judge Michael Wagner refused to release him after the Saudi Arabian government posted USD 2 million bail.
Abid was arrested after his roommate, Reginald Singletary Jr, told investigators that he killed bar owner Blaine Whitworth last September, and that Abid had paid him to do it.

Judge Jacqueline Cook set bond at USD 2 million in November, along with a number of other conditions, but said she was concerned Abid was a flight risk. She also expressed concerns that Abid would be deported because his student visa had lapsed when he could not attend classes at the University of Central Missouri.
Cook retired and handed the case to Wagner, who also said he was deeply troubled by the possibility that Abid would be deported if released from jail.
Singletary remains in jail on USD 1 million bond and has pleaded not guilty.
Abid's attorney, Pat Peters, said in a motion filed with a state appeals court this week that Singletary had refused to answer questions during a deposition Tuesday.

Abid was preparing to enter his senior year at Central Missouri, where he was studying aviation and had planned to become a pilot like his father.