Queens, New York.Prosecutors said Wednesday that a Queens woman has been charged with first-degree murder and arson for allegedly starting a fire in a Jamaican garage earlier this month that claimed the lives of two individuals.
The 43-year-old Aliya Fakhri is charged with intentionally starting the fire that confined her boyfriend, 35-year-old Edward Jacobs, and 33-year-old Anastasia Ettienne in a detached garage on 91st Avenue on November 2. According to officials, both victims passed away from severe burns and smoke inhalation.
Melinda Katz, the district attorney for Queens, claimed that Fakhri purposefully ignited the fire close to the entryway to prevent anyone inside from escaping. According to Katz, the defendant intentionally killed two individuals by starting a fire that ensnared a man and a woman in a blazing conflagration, as claimed in this indictment.
The accusations state that Fakhri arrived at the scene just before 6:30 a.m. and yelled at Jacobs, who was inside, “You’re all going to die today.” Shortly after, a witness apparently saw the fire, but attempts to save Jacobs and Ettienne failed as the building was completely destroyed by flames.
Four counts of first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree arson have been brought against Fakhri. She is still being held without bail after being arraigned by Justice John Zoll at Queen’s Supreme Court on Wednesday. She will appear in court again on December 9.
Fakhri risks a life sentence in prison if found guilty of the primary charge.
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