Accused in killing of Palestinian American boy pleads not guilty
WASHINGTON (AA) – The Illinois man accused of killing a 6-year-old Palestinian American child, and repeatedly stabbing the boy’s mother, has pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Czuba, 71, was the landlord of the house Wadea al-Fayoume and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, were renting when they were attacked.
He was taken into custody following the October 14 murder of al-Fayoume and assault of Shahin, and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two hate crime charges, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Czuba has pleaded not guilty in a Will County court according to multiple reports.
Authorities have said Czuba carried out the attack because of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, as well as the victims’ Muslim and Palestinian identities. The Justice Department has separately opened a federal hate crime probe into the attack.
Al-Fayoume was fatally stabbed 26 times while his mother suffered at least a dozen stab wounds, according to authorities.
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