Pakistan: Zainab Ansari’s Confessed Killer Sentenced To Death

Mohammed Amin shows a picture of his 7-year-old daughter, Zainab Ansari, in Kasur, Pakistan, on Jan. 18. On Saturday, a 24-year-old local man, found guilty in her murder, was sentenced to die.

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Mohammed Amin shows a picture of his 7-year-old daughter, Zainab Ansari, in Kasur, Pakistan, on Jan. 18. On Saturday, a 24-year-old local man, found guilty in her murder, was sentenced to die.

B.K. Bangash/AP

Her murder triggered rioting in Pakistan and rippled the world-over, and on Saturday the man convicted in 7-year-old Zainab Ansari’s death was sentenced to die four times over.

Mohammad Imran, a local man who knew Zainab’s family, pleaded guilty to raping and killing the little girl, reports The Associated Press.

Her body was found on a trash heap on Jan. 9 in the city of Kasur near Lahore, four days after she was reported missing.

Prosecutors say Imran, 24, is a serial killer who has also admitted to killing several other children.

He was arrested two weeks after Zainab’s body was found. Police say they found DNA evidence linking him to Zainab as well seven other girls, reports Reuters. He will be tried in the other cases at a later date, according to the wire service.

On Saturday, Imran was handed four death sentences and life imprisonment following a five-day trial, reports the AP.

The world was moved by a viral photo of Zainab, her hair held back by a pink barrette, wearing her favorite pink jacket, reports the AP.

In Kasur, protesters angered at what they perceived as authorities’ inaction, smashed police cars and tried to burn down the police station; two people died in clashes.

But in Zainab’s small town, her death was not unique.

As NPR’s Diaa Hadid has reported, “Once famed for its Sufi shrines, Kasur, Pakistan, is now synonymous with darkness. During a period of two years, at least 13 children have been raped and killed in this city of less than a million people in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous state.”

In 2015, police uncovered what they called a pedophilia ring responsible for the abuse of hundreds of local children. At least two people have been convicted in connection with that case, reports Reuters.

Zainab’s father, Mohammed Amin Ansari, was in court when Imran’s sentence was handed down. He gave thanks for what he called speedy justice and also called for a public execution.

“My daughter has gone, she will not come back, but I want to save daughters of other people,” he said, according to the AP.

Sahil, a children’s advocacy group, says at least 10 children suffer sexual abuse each day in Pakistan. And those are just the cases that are reported.

Diaa has reported, Zainab’s death may have already made a difference:

“In Pakistan, it had been seen as shameful to talk about sex abuse. But after Zainab’s disappearance, some prominent Pakistani women spoke publicly about what they endured as children. A few dozen families across Pakistan also came forward to report that their children were abused, according to Sahil.”

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Korryn Gaines: 5 Things About MD Mom, 23, Whose Family Won $38 Million After Police Shot Her

The family of Korryn Gaines, a Maryland mom who was fatally shot by police in 2016, was awarded more than $37 million by a jury on Feb. 16. Here’s what you should know.

The family of Korryn Gaines was awarded more than $37 million in damages after the 23-year-old woman was fatally shot by a police officer in 2016. A Baltimore County jury decided on Feb. 16 that the policeman who fatally shot the mother from Randallstown, MD violated her and her son’s civil rights under state and federal statutes. Here’s what you need to know about Korryn:

1. She was shot to death after a six-hour standoff with police. On the morning of Aug. 1, 2016, officers went to Korryn’s apartment to serve her with an arrest warrant on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and multiple traffic violations. When she didn’t open the door after repeated knocking, the cops obtained a key from her landlord and attempted to enter the premises. After gaining entry, they found her holding her son Kodi and a shotgun, and an hours-long standoff ensued. The standoff reportedly came to an end when she said,“If you don’t leave, I’m going to kill you,” according to The Independent at the time. Cpl. Royce Ruby then began shooting, and Korryn was killed at the scene.

2. Her son Kodi was injured in the shooting. When Officer Ruby opened fire on Korryn, her kid ended up getting hurt as well and was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The mother of the young boy published videos on Facebook and Instagram throughout the police standoff and in one of the captions, she wrote, “My son is not a hostage.”

3. The family members are not being compensated equally. Kodi was awarded $32 million in damages. Korryn’s daughter Karsyn Courtney will receive $4.5 million, while Korryn’s parents will each be given $300,000. An additional $300,000 was allocated to the deceased woman’s estate.

Mother of #KorrynGaines says she doesn’t care how much $ family was awarded, she’ll never be able to get her daughter back: pic.twitter.com/5Fx79Yg3Nz

— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) February 16, 2018

4. Her family considers the verdict as a victory for the larger community. “This win is for all of my sisters in the movement who have lost their children to police violence,” Korryn’s mother, Rhanda Dormeus, told The Baltimore Sun outside the courthouse after the jury announced the verdict. “Some of them have never received justice, either criminally or civil. I just want to tell them that this win is for them.”

5. Baltimore County is “disappointed” with the verdict. Baltimore County Attorney Mike Field issued a statement regarding the decision. “A mother died, a child was unintentionally injured, and police officers were placed in mortal danger.  By any account, this was a tragic situation. The County is disappointed with the verdict and is reviewing all of its options, including an appeal,” the statement said.

HollywoodLifers, are you glad the jury ruled in favor of Korryn’s family?

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