Accused parent-killer in jailhouse interview: ‘Wait for the trial’

Hasib Rabbi, 22, was arrested Wednesday, April 27, 2016 along with his brother in connection with the double murder of their parents in San Jose. Hasib Rabbi, 22, was arrested Wednesday, April 27, 2016 along with his brother in connection with the double murder of their parents in San Jose. Photo: Courtesy / San Jose Police Department Photo: Courtesy / San Jose Police Department Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Accused parent-killer in jailhouse interview: ‘Wait for the trial’ 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

The eldest of two sons suspected of murdering their parents in San Jose told The Chronicle in a jailhouse interview that his brother was not involved in the deaths — and that the real story will come out if and when the case goes to court.

“The best thing if anyone wants to know what happened is to wait for the trial,” said Hasib Golamrabbi, 22, speaking articulately on Thursday afternoon with one hand cuffed to his side and the other holding a phone in the interview room at Santa Clara County Jail.

“I want everyone to know what happened,” he said, “but I can’t say anything without a lawyer.”

He was more emphatic when asked if his brother, 17, had any role in the slaying Sunday of their parents: “No, and that’s all I can say. He’s innocent.”

Beyond that, the elder Golamrabbi promised that the true story of what occurred would come out in legal proceedings.

Hasib Golamrabbi and his brother were being held without bail in Santa Clara County Jail Thursday, booked on suspicion of murder. The elder brother was arrested Wednesday night in Tracy, the younger in San Jose, said Sgt. Enrique Garcia, a police spokesman.

Santa Clara County prosecutors must now decide whether to charge the brothers. The younger brother was not identified because of his age.

Investigators had been searching for Golamrabbi since Sunday afternoon when his parents, 57-year-old Shamima Rabbi and her 59-year-old husband, Golam Rabbi, were found shot to death in their home at 3006 Lucas Court in San Jose’s Evergreen neighborhood, Garcia said.

In the days after the killings, police released few details, including a possible motive. But they said Tuesday night that they believe the double slaying “was not a random act of violence” and that the killer or killers were “familiar to the family.”

Garcia said there were no other suspects in the Rabbis’ deaths.

On Thursday, all was quiet at the Rabbis’ home on the suburban cul-de-sac. A memorial adorned with yellow roses and candles had been placed in front of the house.

The Rabbis immigrated to San Jose from Bangladesh more than three decades ago, and they strove to help others follow in their success — even allowing relatives to stay with them as a first step in the journey to the United States.

“They not only brought us here, they also brought us food and shelter — at least until we found our means to survive,” the couple’s 37-year-old nephew, Golam Mustakim, said Tuesday. The Rabbis, he said, “displayed this same kindness to other families in the United States.”

Mustakim said he had never seen the Rabbis fight with their children.

“Any tension was completely out of my knowledge,” he said. “They were quiet, nice children. They always got along with their parents.”

Abdul Jaka, 70, a co-founder of the Evergreen Islamic Center where the Rabbis worshiped weekly, echoed Mustakim’s sentiments. He said the family, one of more than 400 who attend the center, was nice, quiet and showed no signs of discord.

There was “no indication whatsoever,” Jaka said. “To me, this is a really big shock. This has never happened in our community. Everyone is hoping that it is someone else and not the kids, but I’m not sure what the facts are.”

Asked how it felt to find himself behind bars, Hasib Golamrabbi was philosophical.

“It’s a jail. I’m not expecting five-star treatment,” said the elder son, wearing yellow prison garb. “I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who’s been extremely happy to be in jail, but it’s a life experience temporarily.”

Evan Sernoffsky and Kale Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @esernoffsky @sfkale