A trial date has been officially set for March 2, 2026 in the capital murder case of Ibraheem Yazeed, the man accused of abducting and killing 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard. According to WRBL, jury selection is scheduled to begin at the Municipal Complex in Tuskegee, a location chosen for its ability to accommodate a large jury pool.
Circuit Judge Tom F. Young Jr., a specially appointed retired Macon County judge, issued the court order on July 22, 2025, following a motion from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office requesting the case move forward under the state’s Speedy Trial Act.
RELATED: Speedy Trial Act invoked in 2019 Aniah Blanchard murder case
During a status hearing on June 24, Judge Young stated his intention to “move forward expeditiously,” emphasizing fairness while rejecting the defense’s proposal to delay proceedings until May 2026.
“I want to get it done while still making sure it’s fair for all parties involved,” he said. “I will be pushing the ball down the court.”
Despite arguments from the defense to postpone the trial to later in 2026, Judge Young continued with his plan to expedite the proceedings. He issued these additional orders:
- The Circuit Clerk to empanel the appropriate number of jurors to facilitate the trial,
- The Macon County Sheriff’s Office to ensure Yazeed’s presence at all court proceedings, and
- That additional status hearings will be scheduled in the months leading up to trial to resolve any pending legal issues.
RELATED: Accused killer of Aniah Blanchard to appear before retired Justice Tom F. Young
An additional status hearing is scheduled for September 2025 to resolve any outstanding legal issues.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
