An Eastpointe man has pleaded no contest to a second-degree murder charge in connection with a May 2025 stabbing that left a Detroit man dead. Nico Trevon Nettles, 27, entered the plea on April 6 and is set to return to court for sentencing on June 4. The victim, 28-year-old Rashid Aliakbar, was stabbed in the chest during an altercation at a home and later died despite efforts by emergency crews.
According to ClickOnDetroit, Nettles entered a no-contest plea to second-degree murder on Monday and is scheduled for sentencing on June 4 at 8:30 a.m. The plea takes a jury trial off the table and leaves the question of punishment in the hands of a judge. Prosecutors first charged Nettles in May 2025 following the fatal stabbing.
How the attack unfolded
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said investigators believe Nettles stabbed Aliakbar in the upper chest during an argument at a home on May 12, 2025. First responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene, then paramedics rushed Aliakbar to a Detroit hospital, where he later died. Police said Nettles stayed at the location after the stabbing and was taken into custody while officers collected evidence.
Court timeline and penalties
Nettles was arraigned in May 2025 and a judge set bond at $2 million, according to earlier coverage. ClickOnDetroit reported on the initial charges and bond hearing. Second-degree murder can carry a possible life sentence under Michigan law, as noted by CBS Detroit, and Nettles will find out his punishment at the June sentencing hearing.
What a no-contest plea means
In Michigan, a plea of nolo contendere, or no contest, is treated much like a guilty plea for sentencing, but it does not serve as a direct admission of guilt in the same way. State court guidance says a judge may accept a no-contest plea only if it is understanding, voluntary and accurate. The rules for taking such pleas are outlined in the Michigan Courts benchbook.
Next steps for the family and community
Sentencing is set for June 4 at 8:30 a.m., when the court will weigh arguments from prosecutors and the defense and consider any statements from Aliakbar's loved ones. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has previously said that "no disagreement - no matter how personal or intense - should ever end in violence" in its effort to seek justice for the victim's family, according to the county's press release.
