Jury selection at the judgment of Illinois man accused of killing a Muslim child to begin today

Joliet, sick. – Jury selection in the trial of a man accused of Kill a 6 -year -old Muslim child In the Southwest suburbs Will You are ready to start today.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was accused of murder, attempted murder and committing a hate crime in relation to the death of Wadea Al-Fayoume in October 2023.

Details about the shooting

The background history:

Al-Fayouume was killed, and her mother was injured when Czuba, its owner, supposedly attacked them on October 14, 2023, prosecutors said.

The prosecutors said that CZUBA stabbed Wadea more than two dozen times and critically wounded his mother, Hanan Shaheen, who survived. Shaheen was renting a space in the house from Czuba.

The case called national attention as the attack occurred only a few days after the start of the Israel-Hamas War.

Czuba told his wife that he wanted the child and his mother to move from his residence because he believed that he and his wife were in danger, and that Hanan was going to call his family and Palestinian friends to damage the couple, according to the court , according to the Court. Documents.

Inside the house, prosecutors said the owner stabbed the child 26 times. Police discovered Al-Fayoume in his room with a knife housed inside his stomach.

His mother was stabbed more than a dozen times.

Shaheen and his son lived in the house for two years before the attack in October 2023.

What led to the shooting?

Dig more deeply:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip.

After the attack, Czuba was supposedly consumed by the attack and routinely heard the radio and other media that discussed it, according to a lawsuit for unfair death presented by Shaheen.

Around October 11, 2023, Czuba supposedly told his wife, Mary, who wanted Shaheen and Al-Fayoume to move from the rental space.

The lawsuit claimed that Czuba said that Shaheen’s “Palestinian friends” were going to damage them. He also supposedly declared that he was worried about the “National Jihad Day.”

Plainfield, Illinois-17 October: Serena Baig leaves articles in a monument in front of the house where its owner was stabbed by her lessor, on Saturday of October 17, 2023, in Plainfield, Illinois. Your moth

A few days before October 14, Czuba supposedly told Shaheen that “he hates Muslims,” ​​and refers to “you,” continually.

After the conversation with Czuba, Shaheen supposedly informed his wife of interaction. At that time, Mary Czuba supposedly told Shaheen that she shouldn’t move, but Joseph should move. The lawsuit claimed that Mary Czuba told Shaheen that she and Al-Fayouume were safe.

Around October 13, Joseph Czuba supposedly approached Shaheen again and “punished her for her Palestinian ancestry and Muslim faith,” according to demand.

Then, on October 14, Shaheen was giving Al-Fayoume a bath in his rental space when Czuba knocked on the door. When Shaheen opened the door, Czuba supposedly attacked it and a fight occurred.

Plainfield, Illinois-17 October: Oday Al-Fayouume, 6-year 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayume’s father, looks at his son’s image during a vigil on October 17, 2023 in Plainfield, Illinois. Wadea was stabbed until death on Saturday by his family

During the fight, the lawsuit claimed that Czuba stabbed Shaheen several times with a knife, which al-Fayume supposedly witnessed.

After stabbing Shaheen, Czuba supposedly left the rental space and Shaheen managed to close the door and call 911.

Before the police arrived, Czuba allegedly returned to the rental space and crossed the door and attacked the child.

The attack won national attention as reports of Islamophobia and other cases of hate increased after the beginning of the war in the Middle East. Even President Joe Biden He issued a statement After the attack, calling him a “horrible act of hate.”

Earlier this month, a recreation courtyard in Plainfield was named in honor of Al-Fayoume in Van Horn Woods.

What follows?

After completing the jury selection, the trial procedures are expected to begin with opening arguments.