Dad Charged With Killing "Too Westernized" Daughter Won't Face Death Penalty in Jeep Hit and Run

(KPHO/MySpace Photo)

PHOENIX (CBS/AP) Police say that on October 20, 2009, 48-year-old Faleh Almaleki, an Iraqi immigrant, aimed his Jeep Cherokee at his daughter Noor Almeleki and another woman in a Peoria, Arizona parking lot. They say he ran them over, murdering Noor and injuring the other woman. They say he did this because he was afraid his daughter was becoming "too Westernized."

Photo: Noor Almaleki

Now prosecutors say that they won't be seeking the death penalty in the case.
According to The Arizona Republic, the decision not to seek the death penalty came after Almaleki's attorney made a request that there should be "no appearance that a Christian is seeking to execute a Muslim for racial, political, religious or cultural beliefs."

After the incident, which happened in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria and has been described as an "honor killing," Faleh Almaleki fled. First he drove to Mexico. From there he hopped a flight to London where he was denied entrance before being returned to the United States, where he was promptly arrested. He arrived back in the United States just days before Noor died from the injuries he is alleged to have inflicted on her.

Faleh Almaleki is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of leaving the scene of a serious accident. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

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