Prosecutors will seek death penalty for man charged with killing 2 California family members
By APWednesday, March 3, 2010
DA to seek death penalty in Calif. family killings
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Orange County prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a man who’s charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend’s father and sister nearly three years ago.
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said Wednesday he plans to pursue the death penalty for 25-year-old Iftekhar Murtaza (IF’-tek-har mur-TAH’-zah).
Prosecutors say Murtaza thought 18-year-old college student Shayona Dhanak (sheye-OH’-nah DAH’-nahk) broke up with him because of her parents, who disapproved of the relationship.
Murtaza and two co-defendants are accused of beating and stabbing the woman’s father, sister and mother and setting fire to the family’s Anaheim Hills home. Her mother survived.
Authorities say Murtaza was arrested while trying to flee the country on a flight to India.
Murtaza’s attorney, Jeremy Phillips, has said his client is innocent and is being inaccurately portrayed as a spurned and obsessed boyfriend.
