Iraqi immigrant accused of Arizona honor killing of ‘Westernized’ daughter pleads not guilty

Not guilty plea in alleged Ariz. honor killing

PHOENIX — An Iraqi immigrant accused of killing his daughter because she had become too Westernized has pleaded not guilty in a Phoenix court.

Faleh Hassan Almaleki pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of aggravated assault. Prosecutors are expected to issue harsher charges now that his daughter has died.

Peoria police say Almaleki ran down his daughter and her boyfriend’s mother on Oct. 20 with his Jeep. Noor Faleh Almaleki died about two weeks later. The other woman survived.

Almaleki fled the country after the attack, but was stopped at a London airport and sent back to the U.S.

Monday’s hearing had been delayed twice because Almaleki was on suicide watch in jail.