Jury Hears Details Of Oldest Shafia Sister's Romance

First Posted: 11/21/11 09:15 PM ET Updated: 11/23/11 07:34 AM ET


Kingston murder trial jurors heard details Monday about how the relationship between Zainab Shafia and her Pakistani boyfriend caused a great deal of stress within her family.


Nineteen-year-old Zainab's body was found in a submerged car at the bottom of the Rideau Canal, along with her sisters, Sahar, 17, and Geeti Shafia, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 50, in June 2009.


Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Mohammad Yahya, 41, and their son, Hamed Mohammad Shafia, 20, have all pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in their deaths.


In court Monday, the elder Shafia watched as prosecutors showed the jury a series of cellphone photos of his two oldest daughters posing in revealing clothes and with their arms around boyfriends.


The photos were salvaged from three cellphones found in the black Nissan pulled from the canal.


A witness — a close friend of Zainab's whose identity is protected by court order — recounted the relationship between Zainab and her boyfriend, beginning with their first email exchange.


In an email shown to the Jury, Zainab warned the teen about her brother Hamed and asked him to act as if they were strangers in front of him.


But the witness said Hamed soon discovered the relationship when he caught the couple hiding in the Shafia's Montreal home.


As punishment, the witness said Zainab was pulled out of school for a year.


According to the witness, Zainab ran away to a women's shelter with her boyfriend’s help. She didn’t want to go home, the witness testified, because she was afraid.


But Zainab’s mother found her and convinced her to return home by promising her she could get married, said the witness.


The witness recounted how the parents believed their reputation would be damaged because the boyfriend's family did not attend Zainab's wedding. Less than 24 hours after the wedding, the marriage was annulled.


In June 2009, the witness said Zainab was preparing to ask forgiveness from her father, who was about to return from a business trip abroad.


In another email presented to the court, dated June 9, 2009, Zainab wrote that even if she could no longer see him, she would always love her husband of one day.


Zainab was found dead three weeks later.


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Kingston murder trial jurors heard details Monday about how the relationship between Zainab Shafia and her Pakistani boyfriend caused a great deal of stress within her family. ...
Kingston murder trial jurors heard details Monday about how the relationship between Zainab Shafia and her Pakistani boyfriend caused a great deal of stress within her family. ...
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11:41 PM on 11/21/2011
The old guy will probably die in prison before he is eligible for parole. The old lady will be a lot older when she gets out as will be her son who will be middle aged , Both the old lady and the son will be deported back to Afghanistan where they will end their miserable lives.

This is a prime reason why multiculturalism is a farce.
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Vapula
Failure is not an option
11:26 PM on 11/21/2011
Why oh why did these people come to Canada. Obviously to take advantage of our institutions and to ignore our laws. If you want to act like a barbarian better to stay where you are: we don't want you.
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cinderelladressmaker
11:09 PM on 11/21/2011
It is such a shame that the Canadian jail system (that they will no doubt experience) is so much more civilized than that of there home country! These are disgusting people. No remorse, especially the father. I can't wait for the sentencing.
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dclintn648
Conservatism is dread
10:56 PM on 11/21/2011
My heart goes out to this poor young woman, Zainab, who only wanted to live like a regular Canadian girl. Our social workers should remember this before allowing these women to be returned to families who have threatened them. I hope these disgusting people get the full force of Canadian law as a warning to others who think they can perpetrate their despicable customs in Canada.
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GiaMTL
10:54 PM on 11/21/2011
I hope this family gets what they deserve. Make an example out of them, keep them locked up for life so anyone who believes in this farce called "honour killing" may think twice. The poor woman who lost there lives because of these 3 twisted psychos. Sooo sad.