A U.S. military veteran has been sentenced to 55 years in jail for the homicide of an Afghan refugee after shouting Islamophobic slurs on the sufferer.
After a three-day trial, Dustin Passarelli was convicted within the Midwestern U.S. state of Indiana of the homicide of Mustafa Ayoubi, 32, with further time for utilizing a firearm.
Ayoubi was unarmed through the time of the killing, which befell in February 2019 on the west facet of town of Indianapolis. An post-mortem confirmed Ayoubi had been shot eight instances, together with seven instances within the again.
Following a “road rage” encounter between the 2, Passarrelli adopted Ayoubi off the freeway to the immigrant’s condo advanced and made Islamophobic remarks, together with “Go back to your country,” earlier than opening fireplace, in response to witnesses.
In his protection, Passarrelli tried to say post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) associated to his military service had led to the taking pictures.
Passarelli didn’t face any hate crime costs, however the homicide coincided with Indiana legislators debating a brand new hate crime invoice, handed weeks later, permitting longer sentences for crimes motivated by “bias.”
“Mr. Ayoubi’s family and the entire Hoosier (Indiana) Muslim community have been impacted by the actions and hate the defendant displayed on that day,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears advised native media.
“We cannot eradicate hate in a single step, but the prosecutor’s office will continue to hold individuals accountable should they act hatefully against any member in our community,” he added.
After the conviction and sentencing, the sufferer’s sister Zahra Ayoubi wrote on Twitter: “In a world torn by prejudice and worry, He stood tall, his essence clear. A soul so shiny, Cut brief by hate, within the depths of night time. He was greater than a sufferer, he was a flame, He stood and put hate to disgrace. Justice served!”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
