Trial For Man Accused Of Shooting Mom To Death In Church Parking Lot Begins

The trial for a Downers Grove man who allegedly murdered his mother in a church parking lot three and a half years ago starts Wednesday morning, the Daily Herald reported.

Michael Zaky Bassaly, 27, is accused of shooting his 61-year-old mother, Yvonne Bassaly, to death in the parking lot of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Burr Ridge on Aug. 29, 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the crime the following month and has been in custody without bail since he was arrested the day of his mother’s murder.

According to the Herald, Bassaly, an Egyptian immigrant, has been charged with five counts of first degree murder and faces life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors, who have called Yvonne Bassaly’s murder “cold, calculated and premeditated” said during an initial bond hearing that Bassaly was the subject of a Department of Homeland Security investigation related to fake government asylum documents he had in his possession.

Two days after being informed of the investigation, Bassaly reportedly made plans to kill himself and his mother, believing he would spend the rest of his life in prison or face repercussions in the Egyptian community, prosecutors said.

He allegedly suggested he and his mom go pray at St. Mark’s before they died.

Police soon found Yvonne Bassaly’s body in the backseat of a parked 2005 Cadillac near the church. Detectives found a sealed envelope with letters addressed to the FBI on Bassaly’s dashboard, which explained that Bassaly killed his mother “to protect her from the result of the investigation.” He also said he planned to commit suicide after killing her.

Bassaly’s story was retold several times, though, and he eventually told police that they’d been praying in the church parking lot and that the gun just “went off,” killing his mom. Bassaly’s lawyer, Marc Wolfe, has said he believes Yvonne killed herself while Bassaly tried to stop her.

After searching Bassaly’s home, investigators found documents, including identification statements, passports, checks and business cards falsely identifying him as a lawyer.

The Herald reported that Wolfe and prosecutors have said the trial is expected to last through the week.

This is a developing case. Continue to check Patch this week for updates.