An Illinois landlord charged with murder, attempted murder and a hate crime in a 2023 attack on a Palestinian American mother and her young son is expected at trial.

Joseph Czuba, 73, is charged in the fatal stabbing of six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of Hanan Shaheen on Oct. 14, 2023. Authorities said the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel.

Opening statements start Tuesday morning in a trial that is 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, George Lenard, declined to comment before the end of the trial.

  • @[email protected]
    10•1 day ago

    I’d certainly want an online payment portal if he was my landlord. Yeesh!

    But really, how did he think stabbing a 6yo was gonna help anything?

    • @[email protected]English
      13•24 hours ago

      Prosecutors allege Czuba became increasing paranoid about the war because of listening to commentary on conservative talk radio.

      That tells you everything you need to know.