2 held in jail after murder convictions overturned

Two people whose murder convictions in Suffolk County were overturned last month on appeal will remain behind bars, a state judge said Friday.

In separate appearances in Suffolk County Court Friday, neither Zachary Gibian, 23, of Hauppauge, nor Khairual Abdul, 46, formerly of Queens, spoke as they were ordered held in jail without bail by State Supreme Court Justice C. Randall Hinrichs.

Gibian's lawyer did not immediately seek bail, and Abdul's bail request was denied.

In separate cases several years ago, Gibian and Abdul were each sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison after convictions of second-degree murder.

Gibian was convicted in 2006 in connection with the samurai sword slaying of his stepfather, Scott Nager, 51. Abdul was found guilty in 2007 in the 1990 death of her 4-year-old daughter, Jennifer Shafiq.

The Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court said last month Gibian and Abdul are entitled to new trials because of errors by judges at their original trials. The Suffolk district attorney's office plans to appeal both rulings to the state Court of Appeals, prosecutors said.

Abdul is due back in court Sept. 24; Gibian, Oct. 18.

Gibian was emotional Friday, said his attorney, William Keahon of Hauppauge.

"He was in tears a little bit," he said. "He was thankful for the process, thankful to God."

Keahon said he could not file a bail request without consulting with Gibian's family about their finances. Keahon said he had only learned of Gibian's court date on Thursday.

Hinrichs cited Abdul's "extensive prior criminal history" as he denied her bail. Prosecutors said she had been convicted of attempted grand larceny and other charges before and after her daughter's death.