VENTURA, Calif. (NEWSnet/AP) — A judge ruled Wednesday that Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, a Southern California college professor, will stand trial for involuntary manslaughter and battery in the death of a Jewish protestor during a demonstration.

After a two-day preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright judge declared that there’s enough evidence to try Alnaji, according to Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Alnaji, 51, is accused of striking Paul Kessler with a megaphone in November 2023 during a confrontation at an event that started as a pro-Palestine demonstration in Thousand Oaks.

Kessler, 69, fell backward and his head struck the pavement. He died the next day at a hospital.

Alnaji was charged with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing serious bodily injury, with special allegations of personally inflicting great bodily harm injury on each count, the DA’s office said. If found guilty of all charges, he could be sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Alnaji posted $50,000 bail.

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