Lawyer: Iraqi immigrant accused of killing ‘Westernized’ daughter may need mental-health exam
By APWednesday, January 6, 2010
Charged Iraqi father may need mental-health exam
PHOENIX — The lawyer for an Iraqi immigrant charged in Arizona with killing his 20-year-old daughter says his client doesn’t understand court proceedings and may need a mental-health evaluation.
Attorney Billy Little says he first met with 49-year-old Faleh Hassan Almaleki on Tuesday, and that the immigrant didn’t understand the role of his lawyer, the judge or a grand jury.
Little says that could be due to language and cultural barriers and a possible mental-health issue.
Almaleki was in court Wednesday and said only his name and birthday when prompted by the judge.
Authorities say Almaleki ran down his daughter with his Jeep on Oct. 20 as she was walking across a parking lot in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria. Noor Faleh Almaleki died Nov. 2.
