MARINE TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR STABBING-MURDER OF PREGNANT EX-GIRLFRIEND

MARINE TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR STABBING-MURDER OF PREGNANT EX-GIRLFRIEND

SANTA ANA – A Marine will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend and her unborn child. Ahmad Rashad Siddiqi, 23, Alexandria, VA, is charged with two felony counts of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for murdering multiple victims, lying in wait, and the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, Siddiqi faces a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The special circumstances make the defendant eligible for the death penalty. Siddiqi is being held without bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

The defendant is a Marine who had recently returned to Virginia after serving several months in Afghanistan. Siddiqi’s former girlfriend, 23-year-old Soraya Faroqi, was a civilian interpreter for the Department of Defense and had returned to Orange County from Afghanistan on Dec. 13, 2011, less than one week before the murder. Faroqi was in her first trimester of pregnancy.

The defendant is accused of flying from his home in Virginia to talk with Faroqi in Orange County about their former relationship. On Dec. 19, 2011, Siddiqi is accused of meeting with the victim in the Westminster apartment of Faroqi’s friend. 

The defendant is accused of arguing with Faroqi about their relationship and chasing her from the apartment with a knife. He is accused of tackling her behind bushes in a carport and repeatedly stabbing Faroqi as her friend screamed for him to stop. The defendant is accused of murdering Faroqi and her unborn baby.

Witnesses called 911 and the Westminster Police Department arrested the defendant at the scene.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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