Prosecuting attorneys had argued that Yazen Dayem, 21, and Musa Saleh, 22, killed their cousin Methal Dayem on Jan. 8, 1999, because her independent lifestyle was contrary to their belief that women should be submissive.

Prosecutors presented evidence during Yezen Dayem's trial that a security videotape showed a Honda CRV, the type of car used that night by Yezen Dayem, leaving the scene of the shooting. They also said cellular phone records showed Yezen Dayem placed a telephone call about a mile from the scene of the slaying at about the time it occurred.

Wisan Farraj, a jailhouse informant in whom Saleh allegedly confided, also testified that Saleh disclosed to him in prison that Yezen Dayem killed her because her lifestyle was one which was contrary to the teachings of Islam.

Defense responded that the Honda on the videotape could have belonged to anyone, that the cellular call could have been made within 10 miles of the scene and that Farraj was an unreliable witness. It worked.

The defendants never said that Yazen wasn’t capable of killing her, they never said that Yazen didn’t want to kill her they just said that his car and his phone call and the testimony of the informant which all pointed to him wasn’t enough to prove anything.

Methal Dayem's mother, sister and aunt criticized the judicial system and said Allah would punish Yezen Dayem and his supporters.