Minnesota man convicted in stepdaughter’s slaying

Published 6:43 am Sunday, October 21, 2012

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — A Minnesota man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of his 20-year-old stepdaughter.

A Macomb County Circuit Court jury in Mount Clemens deliberated about 30 minutes Friday before reaching its verdict against 47-year-old Rahim Alfetlawi.

Jessica Mokdad was slain April 30, 2011, at her grandmother’s home in Warren, north of Detroit.

Email newsletter signup

A defense attorney had said Mokdad accidentally was shot during a struggle with Alfetlawi over a gun. Some jurors said they disregarded the claim.

Authorities had said Mokdad’s biological father was targeted. They previously had said Alfetlawi was angry because Mokdad left home and wasn’t following Islam.

Alfetlawi of Coon Rapids faces life in prison without parole when he’s sentenced.