Boulder firebombing attack suspect's trials delayed
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The man accused in a fiery attack on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall earlier this year was granted delays in both his federal and state cases.
The big picture: The two rulings mean Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, will likely not stand trial in either court until 2026.
- Soliman, 45, was scheduled for an arraignment in his state case and a trial in his federal case Sept. 9, but attorneys in both cases requested continuances.
In his federal case, Soliman faces nine hate-crime counts and three explosives counts in federal court.
- His defense attorneys secured a 270-day waiver from Soliman's speedy trial clock, the 70-day deadline for federal prosecutors to take a case to trial.
- With no objection from prosecutors, a district judge reset the case with the new speedy trial calculations for a four-week trial starting June 1, 2026 — exactly a year after the attack.
In the state case, Soliman faces more than 180 charges in state court, including first-degree murder in the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond.
- In their motion for a continuance, defense attorneys said restrictions at the federal facility where Soliman is being held have prevented meetings.
- They also noted Colorado law would require Soliman to declare at arraignment if he were to pursue an insanity defense, and Soliman was not sure yet on how he wanted to plead.
- The Boulder County District Attorney's Office did object to the delay, but Boulder District Judge Nancy Salomone granted the continuance on Sept. 3.
- Soliman is now set for an arraignment on Nov. 5, making it unlikely a trial would be scheduled until 2026.
What's next: Soliman's next hearing will be the Nov. 5 arraignment in Boulder County, where he will decide how to plead in state court.
- Meanwhile, his next scheduled court hearing at the federal level will likely be his May 27, 2026, motions hearing.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Mohamed Sabry Soliman was scheduled for an arraignment in his state case and a trial in his federal case on Sept. 9 (not last week).