Killed in a fight over rice [Atkins Diet CAN kill]

New York Daily News ^ | August 25th, 2003 | WARREN WOODBERRY Jr. and ALICE McQUILLAN

[Pharmboy]

A chubby Queens woman hacked her mother-in-law to death with a meat cleaver after the older woman refused to serve her rice with dinner because it's too fattening, authorities said yesterday. The unwanted diet advice sparked a gruesome end for Farida Begum, a 74-year-old grandmother who died yesterday morning, hours after the vicious dinnertime attack in an apartment across the street from Elmhurst Hospital Center.

Ayesha Akter, 32, was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation yesterday. Her neighbors in Elmhurst said she had long behaved oddly - but had never been violent. Police said she had been treated for mental problems and may have gone off her medication.

Akter apparently snapped while she and Begum were sitting down to dinner Saturday in the Layton St. apartment, where the family settled after arriving from Bangladesh.

Akter told police she erupted after her mother-in-law refused to give her rice, saying it was too fattening, said sources, who, like neighbors, described both women as overweight.

She picked up the meat cleaver and started hacking away - smashing Begum's skull, cutting off one of her fingers and leaving gaping wounds in her arms, sources said.

One neighbor in the building at 42-02 Layton St., near Baxter Ave., said he heard a commotion from the second-floor apartment around 5p.m. - but assumed that it was Akter having an argument with her two sons.

"I wish I heard [Begum] cry out for help. I would have knocked down the door or something," said the neighbor, who did not want his name used. "Of course I feel bad."

Akter's husband, an insurance salesman, and the couple's sons returned home about 7:40 p.m. Saturday to discover Begum in a bloody heap and Akter nearby, sources said.

Begum was rushed across the street to the hospital, where she died about 5 a.m. yesterday.

Suspect often on street

Neighbors said Akter's husband was often seen walking outside, arm in arm with his mother. They also noticed that Akter acted strangely at times.

"She used to hang out on this corner ... and the man, I guess, he was a working man like me, and the kids were good," said a neighbor, who also asked not to be identified.

Another neighbor, a 19-year-old man, said he would often see Akter, who stands about 5 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds, roam the street mumbling to herself.

"She's a little crazy. She be walking and, like, praying, walking back and forth," said the man, who also did not want to be named.

Akter was charged yesterday with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. She was being held in the psychiatric unit at Elmhurst Hospital Center.

With Fernanda Santos

[Pharmboy]

Finally, proof that advocating an Atkins Diet can kill you!

[goldstategop]

Hold Muh Diet Alert!

[Guillermo]

They're from Bangladesh, so it's OK, it's Multicultural.

[WestPacSailor]

This just in....Senator Feinstein backing proposed ban on all meat cleavers, knives, and "pointy kitchen utensils". (Except for her kitchen, of course)

[11th Earl of Mar]

Akter was charged yesterday with second-degree murder

Is it illegal in New York to kill your mother-in-law? Sheesh!! Where are all of our freedoms going?

[Pharmboy]

If she tried to diet-restrict, you must acquit!

[Blood of Tyrants]

Anyone care to guess what religion they were?

[I still care]

Those carboyhydrate cravings can be murder.

Oh geez, I don't want to make fun of this, but you know, being a confirmed carbo addict, I fully understand hacking to death someone who has deprived you of your carbos...

[WestPacSailor]

Anyone care to guess what religion they were?

If I were guessing I'd go with the "religion of peace."

[WestPacSailor]

Is it illegal in New York to kill your mother-in-law? Sheesh!! Where are all of our freedoms going?

Apparently we need to seriously question the motives of anyone who wants to buy a meat cleaver. Perhaps a mandatory seven-day waiting period, and registration of all privately owned meat cleavers.

Seriously, there should be a law to prevent this kind of sensless kitchen utensil tragedy. STOP THE INSANITY! Can't we all just get along?

Have we figured out yet how this whole thing is Bush's fault?

[WestPacSailor]

...and may have gone off her medication.

Geesh, ya think?

[Stallone]

Rather, more evidence that the sugar fix from carbohydrates is as compelling as that of a heroin addict.

Maybe that explains convenience store robberies - it's not the cash, its the candy.

Easy sugar energy is the enemy in the War On Obesity, since your ample fat stores never get the call unless you restrict the sugar I.V.

[boris]

"She picked up the meat cleaver and started hacking away - smashing Begum's skull, cutting off one of her fingers and leaving gaping wounds in her arms, sources said."

Maybe she wanted some Chili con Hombre with Lady Fingers for desert.

--Boris

[boris]

"Easy sugar energy is the enemy in the War On Obesity, since your ample fat stores never get the call unless you restrict the sugar I.V."

Sugar is C₆H₂₂O₁₁. Six atoms of carbon and 11 molecules of water.

Is carbon fattening? Nope.

Is water fattening? Nope.

Then why is sugar fattening?

Just today's pop quiz.

--Boris

[krb]

Then why is sugar fattening?

The fat comes from the highly dense energy stored in the bonds between those carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

[Centurion2000]

Senator Feinstein backing proposed ban on all meat cleavers, knives, and "pointy kitchen utensils". (Except for her kitchen, of course)

She was later photographed holding an assault rapier with her finger hooked inside the crossbar and commenting on it's speed, lethality and ease of aquisition by gang banging rennies.

[sauropod]

I say, let's start Sheila Jackass-Lee's hurricane renaming in earnest:

Let's begin with the letter "A": Ayesha

What a role model!

[boris]

"The fat comes from the highly dense energy stored in the bonds between those carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms."

Small correction: the energy comes from the bonds...not the fat. The fat comes later.

[boris]

"This just in....Senator Feinstein backing proposed ban on all meat cleavers, knives, and "pointy kitchen utensils". (Except for her kitchen, of course)"

Call it the "Lizzie Borden" act.

--Boris

[cynicom]

Gotta love our open borders, take in anything and everything. Take in the rest of the third world then we can all live happily ever after as a third world cesspool.