Honor killing on trial

Noor Almaleki — Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office

On Oct. 20, 2009, 911 operators received a report of a hit and run at the Department of Economic Services building in Peoria, Ariz. Witnesses said an SUV struck two women in the parking lot. The victims were identified as 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, seen here, and 43-year-old Amal Khalaf.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

When paramedics arrived, Noor was unconscious and lying face down in the gravel. She had been dragged several feet under the vehicle before it fled the scene. Noor was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, fighting for her life.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Amal had been thrown 27 feet, fracturing her pelvis and femur, but miraculously survived.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Although severely injured, Amal was able to identify the driver of the vehicle. She told police it was Faleh Almaleki, Noor's father.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Det. Chris Boughey of the Peoria Arizona Police Department — CBS News

According to Detective Chris Boughey of the Peoria Arizona Police Department, it took crash reconstruction experts 15 minutes to determine there was no accident at the scene. Boughey would launch a manhunt to find Noor's father.

Video: Hit-and-run analysis
"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Peoria, Arizona crime scene — Peoria Police Department

According to Detective Chris Boughey of the Peoria Arizona Police Department, it took crash reconstruction experts 15 minutes to determine there was no accident at the scene. Boughey would launch a manhunt to find Noor's father.

Video: Hit-and-run analysis
"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

On Oct. 25, 2009, Arizona authorities were alerted by British customs that Faleh had been detained in England. — Peoria Police Department

On Oct. 25, 2009, Arizona authorities were alerted by British customs that Faleh Almaleki had been detained in England. Investigators believe he was en route to Iraq with the assistance of family and friends. He was returned to the United States and held for questioning.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Faleh Almaleki, his wife and children — Faleh Almaleki defense attorneys

During his interview with detectives, Faleh admitted to striking the women, claiming it was an accident. But Det. Boughey suspected the attack was deliberate. He says Faleh, pictured here with his family, revealed his true intentions in this statement: "If...your house has got a fire," Faleh says, "And like just the part of the house got fire. So we...let the house burn or we try to stop the fire." Boughey insists "fire" was a reference to Noor and that Faleh intended to put out the "fire."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

On Nov. 2, 2009, Noor Almaleki died from her injuries.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Six weeks later, her father, Faleh Almaleki, was charged with murder.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Even more shocking than the callousness of the crime is what investigators believed was the motive. Detective Boughey says the attack on Noor was an honor killing - a premeditated act to preserve family honor.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

But what had Noor done to bring dishonor? Through his investigation, Det. Boughey learned Noor had a long-standing feud with her father and that her parents felt she had gone out of her way to dishonor the family by being "too-westernized."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Noor Almaleki and her friend, Adhikar Dhakal — Adhikar Dhakal

Noor's friend, Adhi, says her parents disapproved of everything, from the way she dressed to her choice of friends. Faleh Almaleki thought that being westernized meant going to parties, drinking and dressing provocatively which, Adhi says, wasn't like Noor.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Noor Almaleki and friends — Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office

Faleh became so enraged when he discovered a photo of Noor, pictured at right, on the internet with boys, that Adhi says he threatened to pull her out of school.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

But the independent Noor refused to be controlled and left home. Sometimes she would stay with her friend Amal, but no matter where she went her parents tracked her down.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Noor sent these texts to a friend when Faleh appeared at the DES building on the day of the attack. — Peoria Police Department

In fact, cell phone records suggest Noor feared her father and her safety. She sent these text messages to a friend when Faleh appeared at the DES building on the day of the attack.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

On Jan. 24, 2011, testimony in Faleh Almaleki's murder trial began. The stakes were high not only for Det. Boughey, but for prosecutor Laura Reckart as well. This was one of the first cases prosecuted in the United States as an honor killing.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Faleh's defense attorney Elizabeth Mullins in court — CBS News

Faleh's defense attorney Elizabeth Mullins argued that he never meant to harm anyone, he merely tried to spit on Amal and scare his daughter but accidently hit them. Then, she says, he panicked and fled.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Reckart argued the evidence showed Faleh intended to kill his daughter that day. In all, she called 22 witnesses to the stand to prove Faleh was lying in wait and mowed down the women in cold blood.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Faleh Almaleki and his wife — Peoria Police Department

Reckart also presented recorded jail house phone calls between Noor's parents that she says were telling. In one call, Faleh tells Noor's mother, "I didn't assault someone from the street. I tried to give her a chance." His wife responds, "You rushed it. You rushed it Faleh."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Defense attorney Jeff Kirchler — Peoria Police Department

After a month long trial, the defense rested without calling a single witness. In closing arguments Faleh's other lawyer, Jeff Kirchler, reminded the jury that it was an accident and that there was no evidence to prove Faleh intended to harm anyone. "Is this an honor killing?" He says, "I'm not so sure."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Prosecutor Laura Reckart during her closing remarks — CBS News

But prosecutor Reckart argued otherwise. In her closing remarks she told the jury, "Good fathers protect their children. Good fathers don't blame their children. Good fathers especially don't kill their children."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

On Feb. 22, 2011, Faleh Almaleki was found guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. — CBS News

On Feb. 22, 2011, Faleh Almaleki was found not guilty of first-degree murder, meaning the jury did not agree the attack on Noor was premeditated or an honor killing. Instead he was found guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

At his sentencing, Faleh Almaleki could barely contain his emotions as he apologized for his actions. — CBS News

At his sentencing eight weeks later, Faleh Almaleki could barely contain his emotions as he apologized for his actions.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Faleh Almaleki i ssentenced to 34.5 years in prison for killing Noor and severely injuring Amal. — CBS News

Judge Roland Steinle was unmoved as he addressed Faleh Almaleki: "As you sit in your jail cell I hope you come to grips with what you really did, which so far it's been all about you... just a mean old man killing his child." And with that Faleh was sentenced to 34.5 years in prison for killing Noor and severely injuring Amal.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Prosecutor Laura Reckart and Det. Chris Boughey — CBS News

The sentence was a bittersweet for both Prosecutor Reckart and Det. Boughey, who felt they let Noor down by not getting the first-degree murder verdict.

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

In the end, those closest to Noor remember the friend they had rather than the one they lost.

Noor's friends on growing up in America
"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor

Noor's friend Adhi says, "She's gone physically, but her memory is always gonna live on forever. When I wanna see her, I just look up in the sky. Noor means 'God's light.' During the daytime she's in the form of a sun. But at night she's in the form of a moon. Day and night she's always watching out for me."

"48 Hours Mystery": A Family's Honor