Defendant pleads not guilty as case over pro-Israel protester's death heads to trial

The defendant in the death of pro-Israel protester Paul Kessler pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday as the case heads to trial.

Defense attorney Ron Bamieh entered the plea for Loay Alnaji, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter by an unlawful act in the death of the 69-year-old Thousand Oaks man late last year. Alnaji, of Moorpark, is also charged with battery with serious bodily injury and the special allegation of personally inflicting great bodily injury.

Prosecutors with the Ventura County District Attorney's Office allege that Alnaji hit the Jewish man with a megaphone and knocked him down to the sidewalk, where he struck the back of his head and suffered injuries from which he could not recover.

Kessler died Nov. 6, less than a day after he became injured in the confrontation with Alnaji, who had joined other pro-Palestinian protesters in Thousand Oaks. The incident took place at the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Westlake boulevards, which had become a regular site for protests in the weeks after Hamas' deadly attack on Israel and Israel's deadly response.

The defense position is that Alnaji acted in self-defense and that Kessler died because a previously diagnosed brain tumor caused him to collapse.

"Mr. Kessler did not die due to the actions of my client," Bamieh said after the defendant's arraignment in a Ventura courtroom.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright set the next court appearance on Sept. 16, when defense and prosecution attorneys are expected to discuss the scheduling of various aspects of the case. Bamieh said he expected the trial to start late this year or early next year.

Prosecutor Courtney Lewis said she believed that time frame was reasonable but declined comment on her view of the case.

Prosecutors filed felony charges last week that are identical to the ones they brought in November after Alnaji was arrested. The new set takes into account the information that emerged from a preliminary hearing that concluded in mid-May, when Wright ruled the prosecution had presented enough evidence to send the case to trial.

Alnaji, 50, is on leave from his position as a teacher at Moorpark College, Bamieh said. The attorney said his client remains free from custody on $50,000 bond.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of four years in prison, the DA's office said.

Staff writer Isaiah Murtaugh contributed to this report.

Kathleen Wilson covers courts, mental health and local government issues for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at or 805-206-8805.