Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DALLAS (AP) — A North Texas woman accused of strangling her two special-needs children because she wanted "normal kids" has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/1saGEqC ) reports Saiqa Akhter must remain at a state mental hospital for treatment unless a judge approves her discharge.
Medical experts testified Monday that Akhter was diagnosed as schizophrenic and insane when her children were attacked and died in July 2010. Relatives say the Irving woman's 5-year-old son, Zain, had severe speech problems. Her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal, was developmentally delayed.
Akhter told a 911 operator that she strangled the children because they were a burden, saying, "I want normal kids."
Attorneys for Akhter, who was originally charged with capital murder, said she belonged in a mental hospital and not prison.
___
Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
