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The jury found 25-year-old immigrant from Fiji, Mohammed Haroon Ali, guilty of first degree murder in San Mateo, California, after deliberating for nearly three days, last week.
Six years ago, it had been Daisy Chandra who got the jury's attention as she recalled how she was kidnapped at knifepoint and assaulted by Ali, her former boyfriend.
Her crime? She wanted to break their engagement.
Then the prosecution offered a vigorous argument insisting that Ali was known for systematically abusing women.
And now, Ali was being tried for the murder of his girlfriend Tracey Biletnikoff, 20. The murder and trial drew plenty of attention in the Silicon Valley because of its low crime rate.
Like Chandra, Biletnikoff too wanted to terminate her relationship with Ali. A recovering addict herself, she had been active in many programs to support women addicts.
It was not easy to convince the jury. For the defense argued that Ali had killed Biletnikoff because he had relapsed into drug use after remaining sober for 18 months and lost his cool when she asked him to go sober again.
Ali's lawyer asked the jury not to convict him for first degree murder. In fact, the jury was told that Ali should not get more than nine years.
The sentencing could come in a few days, and Ali could get 50 years to life. It is also possible that he could serve a few years in prison and then be deported to Fiji.
Because of his first conviction, Ali's deportation hearing was set for July 1999. By then he had killed his newest lover.
EARLIER REPORTSFiji Indian On Trial For Killing Football Legend's Daughter'I never meant to kill her'
EXTERNAL LINK In memory of Tracey
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