Bridgeport suspect in brutal domestic violence attack now charged with slapping, spitting on judicial marshals

Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, was brought before a judge on allegations he slapped one marshal in the face and spit on another while at the courthouse Thursday for his arraignment in the domestic violence case.

Marissa Alter

Sep 27, 2024, 10:43 PM

Updated 15 days ago

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A Bridgeport man accused of brutally beating his wife and her two kids was back at Bridgeport Superior Court Friday, where he continued to cause problems for the second day in a row.
Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, was brought before a judge on allegations he slapped one marshal in the face and spit on another while at the courthouse Thursday for his arraignment in the domestic violence case.
On Friday, as Sulaiman was led into the courtroom, he spit on the wall in the hallway, causing marshals to cover his face with a “spit hood.” That was just the start of the issues.
Sulaiman was disruptive and refused to stay quiet, leading Judge William Holden to have him removed. The hearing went on without Sulaiman, and the judge added an additional $1 million to Sulaiman's already $10 million bond.
But Sulaiman continued to struggle with marshals after he was led away. State police arrived at the courthouse to investigate additional reported attacks. That included allegations Sulaiman spit blood in a marshal's eye.
The accusations led Sulaiman’s case to be recalled without him. Judge Mary Elizabeth Reid ordered he be tested for HIV. Reid also said that due to Sulaiman’s actions, he has forfeited his right to be present in a courtroom. Future hearings will now be virtual, including Sulaiman’s expected arraignment next week on additional charges from his latest behavior.
Sulaiman is already charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault, two counts of risk of injury to a child, criminal possession of a firearm, three counts of assault on a public safety officer and disorderly conduct.
On Wednesday morning just before 10 a.m., Bridgeport police responded to an apartment at the corner of Main Street and Capital Avenue after receiving multiple 911 calls, including one from Sulaiman's wife.
"Please help! He's hitting us with a bat! My kids! My kids! My son! Please help us! Please! Please!" she begged, according to the police report, which noted screaming and banging in the background of the call.
Arriving officers arrested Sulaiman as he was walking away from the building. Police said the two boys, ages 4 and 6, had to be airlifted to the hospital and the older one was initially unresponsive.
“I can disclose that the likelihood of survival of this individual is close to zero,” Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Craig Nowak told the court Thursday. “At that point in time, if and when this individual dies, the state of Connecticut is prepared and will be filing information for murder with special circumstances.”
Police said the other child and his mother are listed as stable at the hospital.
Sulaiman’s wife told police he’d accused her of cheating on him and had been smoking PCP for days, the report stated. She also said he previously beat her and threatened to kill her and her children.
According to the report, police searched the apartment and found a handgun wrapped in a blanket in the kitchen area.
“The defendant has a past history of violence, not just in this state but in the state of New Jersey, where he did seven years for aggravated assault,” Nowak said during the arraignment.
Sulaiman has several prior convictions in Connecticut. In September 2022, he pleaded guilty to assault of a police officer, risk of injury to a child and violation of a protective order. He was sentenced to two years in prison and four years of probation. Sulaiman was also previously convicted of engaging police in a pursuit, larceny and drug possession.
If Sulaiman can post his current $11 million bond, he'll have to wear two GPS bracelets and be on house arrest. He was also ordered to have no contact with the three victims.
Sulamain's next court date on the current charges is Oct. 10.