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Uncle Testifies In Flint Serial Stabbing Trial

FLINT (WWJ/AP) - The uncle of a man who police say went on a stabbing spree says he doesn't see his nephew as a violent person.

Tony Sahwany testified Wednesday, the second day of trial for Elias Abuelazam, who is charged with fatally stabbing a 49-year-old man in Flint.

Prosecutors called Sahwany as a witness to explain how Abuelazam tried to leave the country in 2010 after 14 people were stabbed in the Flint area, five fatally.

Sahwany said he drove Abuelazam to the Detroit airport for a trip to Israel, his nephew's native country, because Abuelazam didn't want to work.

Sahwany said it doesn't "strike his mind" that Abuelazam is violent.

He's on trial for the death of Arnold Minor and is separately charged with two more murders and six attempted murders

In opening arguments on Tuesday, prosecutor David Layton  said they will use DNA evidence to link Abuelazam to Arnold's death, with the victim's blood found on his clothing and in his SUV. Layton told the jury they would hear from some of Abuelzam's victims as part of the trial, and learn how the stabbings took place. (More on this here).

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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