From the Dallas Morning News Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An Irving mother accused of strangling her two children with an antenna wire was arraigned this morning on a single charge of capital murder.
Saiqa Akhter
Saiqa Akhter was charged this morning in the death of her 5-year-old son Zain, who died Monday. She faces a second arraignment this afternoon in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal.
The girl died Tuesday evening after she was revived following Monday's attack. She was kept alive on life support for about a day, family members say.
Akhter called 911 about 5 p.m. Monday from the family's apartment in the 3300 block of Esters Road, according to a search warrant affidavit. She told the operator that she used a wire to choke her children until they turned blue.
Akhter's uncle said his niece had been depressed since moving into the new apartment and reported "strange things" inside the family's home.
"It looks like she had mental problems," said Wasimul Haque, who did not elaborate on what Saiqa Akhter said she had seen. "I don't understand why she did it."
Zain, the 5-year-old, had autism and suffered from a severe speech impediment but had been improving, the uncle said. He said the boy had been in speech therapy.
Faryaal also had health problems and was rushed to the emergency room last year with a respiratory issue. A stethoscope was also taken from the home.
The children's father, Rashid Akhter, emigrated from Pakistan in the late 1990s. He married Saiqa several years later, and she then moved here. He works as a computer technician.
"He did whatever he can do with his wife to keep her happy all the time," Haque said.
The family was the subject of a Child Protective Services investigation last year after Zain was left alone at home while his parents rushed his sister to a hospital to be treated for breathing problems.
An agency spokeswoman said there were no signs of neglect or abuse.
An Irving mother accused of strangling her two children with an antenna wire was arraigned this morning on a single charge of capital murder.
Saiqa Akhter
Saiqa Akhter was charged this morning in the death of her 5-year-old son Zain, who died Monday. She faces a second arraignment this afternoon in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal.
The girl died Tuesday evening after she was revived following Monday's attack. She was kept alive on life support for about a day, family members say.
Akhter called 911 about 5 p.m. Monday from the family's apartment in the 3300 block of Esters Road, according to a search warrant affidavit. She told the operator that she used a wire to choke her children until they turned blue.
Akhter's uncle said his niece had been depressed since moving into the new apartment and reported "strange things" inside the family's home.
"It looks like she had mental problems," said Wasimul Haque, who did not elaborate on what Saiqa Akhter said she had seen. "I don't understand why she did it."
Zain, the 5-year-old, had autism and suffered from a severe speech impediment but had been improving, the uncle said. He said the boy had been in speech therapy.
Faryaal also had health problems and was rushed to the emergency room last year with a respiratory issue. A stethoscope was also taken from the home.
The children's father, Rashid Akhter, emigrated from Pakistan in the late 1990s. He married Saiqa several years later, and she then moved here. He works as a computer technician.
"He did whatever he can do with his wife to keep her happy all the time," Haque said.
The family was the subject of a Child Protective Services investigation last year after Zain was left alone at home while his parents rushed his sister to a hospital to be treated for breathing problems.
An agency spokeswoman said there were no signs of neglect or abuse.
From the Dallas Morning News Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An Irving mother accused of strangling her two children with an antenna wire was arraigned this morning on a single charge of capital murder.
Saiqa Akhter
Saiqa Akhter was charged this morning in the death of her 5-year-old son Zain, who died Monday. She faces a second arraignment this afternoon in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal.
The girl died Tuesday evening after she was revived following Monday's attack. She was kept alive on life support for about a day, family members say.
Akhter called 911 about 5 p.m. Monday from the family's apartment in the 3300 block of Esters Road, according to a search warrant affidavit. She told the operator that she used a wire to choke her children until they turned blue.
Akhter's uncle said his niece had been depressed since moving into the new apartment and reported "strange things" inside the family's home.
"It looks like she had mental problems," said Wasimul Haque, who did not elaborate on what Saiqa Akhter said she had seen. "I don't understand why she did it."
Zain, the 5-year-old, had autism and suffered from a severe speech impediment but had been improving, the uncle said. He said the boy had been in speech therapy.
Faryaal also had health problems and was rushed to the emergency room last year with a respiratory issue. A stethoscope was also taken from the home.
The children's father, Rashid Akhter, emigrated from Pakistan in the late 1990s. He married Saiqa several years later, and she then moved here. He works as a computer technician.
"He did whatever he can do with his wife to keep her happy all the time," Haque said.
The family was the subject of a Child Protective Services investigation last year after Zain was left alone at home while his parents rushed his sister to a hospital to be treated for breathing problems.
An agency spokeswoman said there were no signs of neglect or abuse.
An Irving mother accused of strangling her two children with an antenna wire was arraigned this morning on a single charge of capital murder.
Saiqa Akhter
Saiqa Akhter was charged this morning in the death of her 5-year-old son Zain, who died Monday. She faces a second arraignment this afternoon in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal.
The girl died Tuesday evening after she was revived following Monday's attack. She was kept alive on life support for about a day, family members say.
Akhter called 911 about 5 p.m. Monday from the family's apartment in the 3300 block of Esters Road, according to a search warrant affidavit. She told the operator that she used a wire to choke her children until they turned blue.
Akhter's uncle said his niece had been depressed since moving into the new apartment and reported "strange things" inside the family's home.
"It looks like she had mental problems," said Wasimul Haque, who did not elaborate on what Saiqa Akhter said she had seen. "I don't understand why she did it."
Zain, the 5-year-old, had autism and suffered from a severe speech impediment but had been improving, the uncle said. He said the boy had been in speech therapy.
Faryaal also had health problems and was rushed to the emergency room last year with a respiratory issue. A stethoscope was also taken from the home.
The children's father, Rashid Akhter, emigrated from Pakistan in the late 1990s. He married Saiqa several years later, and she then moved here. He works as a computer technician.
"He did whatever he can do with his wife to keep her happy all the time," Haque said.
The family was the subject of a Child Protective Services investigation last year after Zain was left alone at home while his parents rushed his sister to a hospital to be treated for breathing problems.
An agency spokeswoman said there were no signs of neglect or abuse.
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