The former boyfriend of a slain Iranian activist who was on the phone when she was fatally shot in Houston shared a testimony of the haunting conversation they had.
Robeen Bandar, 40, testified Wednesday in the capital murder trial of 60-year-old Ali Irsan who was charged with two separate ‘honor killings’ – including the shooting of Gelareh Bagherzadeh outside her parent’s home in January 2012.
Bandar said: ‘She said, ‘He’s just standing there, not moving’ then she said, ‘Honey! Honey!
Robeen Bandar, 40, testified Wednesday in the capital murder trial of 60-year-old Ali Irsan (pictured) who was charged with two separate ‘honor killings’ – including the shooting of Gelareh Bagherzadeh outside her parent’s home in January 2012
Gelareh Bagherzadeh (pictured) and Bandar had been dating a year before her death. The young activist had been friends with the Jordanian-American’s daughter
‘She wanted to tell me something but couldn’t. Then the phone dropped.’
The young activist had been friends with the Jordanian-American’s daughter, the Houston Chronicle reported.
She and Bandar had been dating a year before her death.
Irsan is charged with killing his daughter’s husband – Coty Beavers (pictured) – and Bagherzadeh
Irsan is charged with killing his daughter’s husband – Coty Beavers – and Bagherzadeh after his daughter converted to Christianity and married a Christian man.
He is said to have also plotted to kill his daughter in hopes of restoring his family’s honor.
The father was charged with the killings after law enforcement convicted him for trying to get government benefits by filing false claims for Social Security disability.
Witnesses also testified that Isran called 911 and told them that his daughter – Nesreen – was trying to posion him with anthrax that was stolen from Houston’s MD Anderson hospital where she worked.
But there was no evidence of chemicals being taken or that Nesreen had done anything wrong.
He is said to have performed the honor killings after his daughter – Nesreen – married a Christian man and converted
Prosecutors called several officers to corroborate the detail that Isran was calling the police on his daughter and giving false stories.
‘It was believed to be anthrax,’ said Darren Hess, director of Montgomery County Homeland Security. Hess had gone to Isran’s home to investigate the allegations.
The devout Muslim had called 911 on Sept. 28, 2011, claiming that he found a rubber glove with powder under his chicken coup.
He appeared to want the woman arrested and taken back to his home, according to prosecutors in the court.
Isran’s lawyers are claiming that neither shooting is connected to their client and the charges are a ploy to pin the deaths on him.
Isran’s wife, Shmou Wabdeh, is testifying against her husband as well, Click Houston reports.
But she too is on trial for the murders.