The competent court will hold, next Saturday, June 6, the first hearing of the trial of the accused in the incident of a woman’s murder inside her home in the Bulaq al-Dakrur area of Giza, known in the media as the Niqab Crime.
The Niqab Crime
The text of the investigations into the incident was obtained, where the statements of the first accused, named Hassan M. E. M., a food distributor, were given before the investigative authorities upon being asked: What was the plan you devised to carry out the theft?
A: At first, we agreed to rob my aunt, and we started thinking about several problems in this matter so we could complete the theft.
Q: What obstacles were you facing at that time?
A: First, they live in a building closed with an iron door, and to enter I needed to have the key. Second, the day and time: I had to set a time when no one would be home except my aunt so we could overpower her, steal, and leave. Also, if she saw me, she would recognize me, so we had to wear something to cover our faces.
Q: How did you manage to overcome these difficulties?
A: First, regarding the building, I said I would go to her the day before the theft to take the building door key from the apartment because they always keep a spare key for that door next to it. At the same time, I would look around the apartment well and find out where the gold and money were, so on the day we execute the plan, we wouldn’t waste time and could leave quickly.
Second, regarding the time, it had to be on any day from “Saturday, Sunday, Monday” because Uncle Esmat would be at work, his son Mohamed would be with him, and Israa would be at university, so no one would be home except my aunt. Also, the time had to be after 10 AM, because I know she goes to the market every morning and returns home around 10 or 10:30.
And last, regarding our faces, we agreed to get women’s clothing “niqab” to cover us so no one would recognize us.
Q: What about gaining control over the victim to complete this incident?
A: I said we would be two, and she would be alone. So one of us would hold her, and the other would take the items, and we would steal and leave immediately, without anyone seeing or knowing.
Q: What if the victim cried for help or offered any resistance?
A: We said then one of us would hold her and keep her in a place, and maybe put a hand over her mouth or something until we finish. That was our plan.
