The 'Black Widow' shakes Iran: 10 death sentences for a serial killer who killed 12 men
The 56-year-old killer confessed to killing 12 elderly men after temporarily marrying them; Iranian law allows the victims' families to replace death sentences with the payment of blood money (diya)
An Iranian court on Monday issued 10 death sentences against Kolthum Akbari, known in the media as the "Black Widow," after her conviction for committing a series of murders over nearly 20 years.
According to Iranian media, Akbari, 56, confessed after her arrest about a year ago to killing her husband and a number of other men, most of whom were elderly, in crimes committed using a similar method.
A recurring pattern in crimes
Investigators said Akbari would enter into temporary marriages with elderly men. After a short period of living with them, she would force them to take medications or put them in the drinks she served them.
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One of her victims was an 82-year-old man, whom she married in a temporary marriage for a dowry of 5 billion Iranian rials ($730).
According to the latest account reported by Iranian media, the man began to feel in danger and informed his children from a previous marriage that his wife was forcing him to take medication for blood pressure and heart disease, and that he would feel close to fainting after consuming the drinks she prepared for him.
A few days later, the man died, which prompted his sons to inform the local authorities.
Why 10 death sentences?
The judiciary in Mazandaran Province announced the issuance of 10 separate death sentences against Akbari, despite acknowledging that she killed a larger number of victims.
The multiplicity of sentences, according to Iranian reports, is related to the law that allows the families of murder victims to reach a settlement with the convict and waive the execution of the death penalty in exchange for receiving blood money (diya), in accordance with Islamic Sharia law.
Iranian media reported that one of the victims’ families has already reached an agreement with Akbari, while other families have expressed their willingness to accept blood money, in a request that the court will consider after freezing the convicted person’s assets and properties.
Authorities say Akbari confessed to killing 12 men, including her husband, with the crimes attributed to her spanning nearly two decades.