Nargis Fakhri’s sister indicted over boyfriend’s murder in NY

Aliya Fakhri, the sister of Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri, has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and related offences for the killing of her boyfriend in New York’s Queens.

Aliya, 43, “deliberately” set fire to a garage in Jamaica, a neighbourhood in Queens on Nov 2, according to a press release issued by District Attorney Melinda Katz, Reuters reports.

The fire claimed the lives of her boyfriend Edward Jacobs, 35, and his friend 33-year-old Anastasia Ettienne.

According to the case dossier, Aliya arrived at the property – a two-storey garage behind 172-27 91st Avenue – around 6:20am on Nov 2, yelling “You’re all going to die today".

Following this, a witness saw the flames downstairs and raised an alarm that the building had been set on fire.

Alerted by the blaze, Ettienne came downstairs but went back upstairs in an attempt to rescue Jacobs. Neither survived.

According to the press report, both of them died due to thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

Aliya faces an array of charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, and one count each of first and second-degree arson.

If convicted on the top charge, she could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the press statement, Katz said: “As alleged in this indictment, this defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people by setting a fire that trapped a man and woman in a raging inferno.”

“The victims tragically died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Our condolences are with the families of Edward Jacobs and Anastasia Ettienne as we prosecute this case.”Aliya’s mother has expressed disbelief at the allegations, describing her daughter as a caring person who often sought to help others.