The trial of a suburban Chicago landlord accused of murder, attempted murder, and a hate crime in a 2023 attack on a Palestinian American woman and her young son is set to start Tuesday. Joseph Czuba, 73, is charged in the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of Hanan Shaheen on Oct. 14, 2023.
Authorities stated that the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Tuesday morning in a trial expected to last about a week.
Czuba has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and other charges. His defense attorney declined to comment before the trial's conclusion.
The attack on the family in Plainfield, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago, has reignited concerns about anti-Muslim discrimination in the Chicago area's large Palestinian community. The incident comes amidst escalating hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. since the October 2023 conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Prosecutors allege that Czuba, influenced by conservative talk radio commentary, became increasingly paranoid about the war. Shaheen reported that Czuba was upset over the conflict and attacked after she had urged him to “pray for peace.”
The young boy was tragically stabbed 26 times, while his mother sustained over a dozen stab wounds, requiring weeks to recover. Czuba remains detained, with prosecutors arguing that he poses a danger to Shaheen and others.
Hundreds of mourners attended the boy's funeral service, where he was remembered as a kind child who enjoyed sports and Legos. Additionally, the boy's father, who is divorced from Shaheen and did not reside at the home, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
