| For Immediate Release June 13, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
VAN NUYS MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF EX-GIRLFRIEND’S FAMILY
FULLERTON – The Orange County District Attorney has filed charges against Iftekhar Murtaza, 22, Van Nuys, for the special circumstances murder of his former girlfriend’s father and sister and the attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation of her mother. He has been charged with two felony counts of murder for Karishma Dhanak and Jayprakash Dhanak and one count of felony attempted murder for Leela Jayprakash Dhanak. Murtaza also faces sentencing enhancements for committing multiple murders, murder during the commission of kidnapping Karishma Dhanak, and murder during the commission of kidnapping Jayprakash Dhanak.
He is expected to be arraigned this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the North Justice Center in Fullerton. The Department is to be determined. Murtaza is being held on no bail.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will not be releasing any additional information at this time.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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