Posted on 01/25/2005 10:20:12 AM PST by johnny7
Authorities investigating the brutal murders of a Coptic Christian family last week said Monday that they have not found any evidence so far that indicates the four Jersey City residents were slain over a religious dispute.
Authorities investigating the brutal murders of a Coptic Christian family last week said Monday that they have not found any evidence so far that indicates the four Jersey City residents were slain over a religious dispute.AdvertisementThe possibility of a religious grudge, which has strained relations between Muslims and Christians in the area, still is being investigated, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, as reported by the Associated Press.
Last week, enormous tensions between Muslims and Christians in New Jersey’s second largest city surfaced during the funeral for Hossam Armanious, a 47-year-old Coptic Christian, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8, whose bodies were found bound and gagged, their throats and heads stabbed repeatedly. As mourners took the city’s streets to St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church on Monday, grief and rage erupted as many blamed Muslims for the killings. According to some family members, Armanious had engaged in heated debate about Islam on a religious Web site.
In an attempt to defuse religious tensions, Christian and Muslim leaders last week made statements, cautioning the public not to jump to conclusions. "We condemn this heinous crime, and we ask that all members of the Christian and Muslim communities refrain from inflaming the present situation and not place blame until the investigation is completed," stated Ghazi Khankan, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' New York office, as reported by the New York-based 1010 WINS radio station. The St. Abraam's Coptic Orthodox Church in Woodbury, N.Y. also issued a statement Wednesday cautioning against "jumping to conclusions," however the statement also said "some signs point to this incident being a religiously motivated hate crime against Coptic Christians."
Authorities, however, say nothing so far supports the theory. "Is it possible? Yes," DeFazio said. "Do we have anything that gives us reason to believe this is what it was, factually? No. Nothing indicates that was the prime motivation for this. That we can clearly say." However, DeFazio added that the grisly slayings of the family of four did not appear to stem from a simple robbery—which authorities had stressed last week as being a possible motive. "Certainly, based on the viciousness of the attacks, we think there's more than taking the money that was in the apartment," DeFazio said.
While authorities are investigating the possibility that the Coptic Christian family was slain by a Muslim angered over postings that Armanious wrote in an Internet chat room, AP said investigators also continue to look at robbery as a possible motive. Detectives are reviewing the family's finances to see if there are any obvious motives.
Meanwhile, Hudson authorities have enlisted the FBI to scrutinize the family's activities in Egypt before they came to this country in 1997.
Cook County, ILL, may have a slight point of contention with that claim.
Cook County is the #1 contender, but I believe the modern Democrat Politial Machine was created by Mayor Hague in Jersey City, NJ...
And don't forget, they also bound themselves up before killing themselves, then after death, they slashed at Coptic Cross tattoos on one of the murdered girls.
You're right, nothing to see here.
Mark
< "Certainly, based on the viciousness of the attacks, we think there's more than taking the money that was in the apartment," DeFazio said." >
Do ya think?
Says Prosecutor
Have they CAUGHT someone yet that a prosecuter is already involved???
"There is no proof."
Reminds me of one of clinton's favorite sayings, "There is no evidence."
Of course not. He shredded it.
You mean Mayor "I am the law" Hague :-)
Absolutely!
Ishaq’s Sira speaks of the murder of another journalist, Asma bint Marwan. She spoke critically of Muhammad, telling her tribe to be wary of him. Ishaq: 676 “‘You obey a stranger who encourages you to murder for booty. You are greedy men. Is there no honor among you?’ Upon hearing those lines Muhammad said, ‘Will no one rid me of this woman?’ Umayr, a zealous Muslim, decided to execute the Prophet’s wishes. That very night he crept into the writer’s home while she lay sleeping surrounded by her young children. There was one at her breast. Umayr removed the suckling babe and then plunged his sword into the poet. The next morning in the mosque, Muhammad, who was aware of the assassination, said, ‘You have helped Allah and His Apostle.’ Umayr said, ‘She had five sons; should I feel guilty?’ ‘No,’ the Prophet answered. ‘Killing her was as meaningless as two goats butting heads.’”
Just good devout Muslims following the Prophets example.
Suspects not white, not Christian (not straight??) - couldn't be a hate crime, just couldn't.
If this is just rumor then a detailed report should be released of the forensic evidence at the scene to quell such rumors; barring that, the message has been received.
Authorities, however, say nothing so far supports the theory. "Is it possible? Yes," DeFazio said. "Do we have anything that gives us reason to believe this is what it was, factually? No. Nothing indicates that was the prime motivation for this. That we can clearly say."
So, I guess I'm a little confused. Someone mentioned the magic words, "hate crime", yet "the authorities" are blathering on about evidence. I thought when it came to hate crimes, evidence was immaterial, just the accusation is sufficient. Maybe that rule only applies to non-Christian persons of color.
No freaking way, f. Daley owns the title.
And I'm in Penna.
Blind Justice:
The article failed to mention where Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio purchased his "seeing eye dog"!
If he can't see the evidence something is wrong!!!
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