Man Pleads Not Guilty in Death of Nephew

A 63-year-old Syrian immigrant pleaded not guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the 1999 death of his nephew, whose dismembered body was found at a recycling center, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Last month, Los Angeles police charged Fadel Issa Tawil of Burbank with the 1999 New Year’s Day killing of Hilal Taweel, 35. Authorities say Tawil, who is being held on $1 million bail, had a strained relationship with his nephew because of his nephew’s American ways. Taweel had told people he feared he was in danger.