Hunter
03/14/23
The trail for a former University of Iowa student who allegedly choked a woman to unconsciousness and stole her $20,000 earrings last spring has been delayed.
The Daily Iowan reports that 19-year-old Ali Younes originally had a trial date of December 6th, but it had been scheduled to begin March 28th. Now the trial has been pushed back to May 16th at the Johnson County Courthouse.
Younes was a first-year student at the UI until his arrest. He reportedly had a history of multiple harassment and assault complaints before the incident. UI Police documents show the student was accused of stalking, sexual assault and sexual harassment on four separate occasions.
The incident that landed Younes in jail occurred last April 25th. Younes and the victim were seen on video walking opposite directions from each other on the IMU footbridge. The video allegedly showed Younes turning around and following the woman. Younes is accused of grabbing the woman from behind and tackling her to the ground. He then is seen turning her over and using both hands to strangle her to unconsciousness. While in that state, Younes allegedly removed the woman’s earrings, which are valued at $20,000.
Witnesses interrupted Younes, who claimed that the victim was walking and then passed out. He fled and was arrested at his girlfriend’s house the next day in possession of the stolen earrings.
Younes was charged with Attempted Murder, 1st degree Robbery and 1st degree Theft. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to sixty years in prison.