New England Town Crier

Ohio Supreme Court Sets Execution Date for Abdul Awkal

Ali Awkal of Springfield

When Abdul Awkal arrived in the United States his brother Ali picked him up at the airport and Abdul punched him in the nose since he was a little late.

Posted: Jun 14, 2011 11:28 AM EDT

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor announced that the Ohio Supreme Court has granted the motion made by the County Prosecutor’s Office to set an execution date for death row inmate Abdul Awkal. He is scheduled to be executed on June 12, 2012.

Abdul Awkal – Some of the Awkal’s have had a little trouble adjusting to life in America.

Prosecutor Mason, “He left a lasting, chilling effect on our judicial system and will face the consequences of his actions.”

On January 7, 1992, defendant Abdul Awkal, now 52, murdered his wife, Latife Awkal, and her brother, Mahmoud Abdul-Aziz, inside the old Courthouse located on Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland. Awkal had a 2:00 PM meeting with his estranged wife, who was seeking a divorce, at the Family Conciliation Services Department, Room 52, located in the basement of the old Courthouse. His wife arrived early with their baby girl (born September 1990) to meet her brother; both waited in the hallway for Awkal to arrive.

When he arrived, he confronted his wife and brother in the hallway. Awkal chased them into Room 52, where he shot both at close range. He picked up the baby girl who was left on the bench outside the room and hurriedly ran through the basement halls. When armed deputies confronted him, he pointed his gun at the baby’s head. A deputy shot Awkal as he tried to escape.

In November 1992, a jury found Awkal guilty of two counts of aggravated murder with prior calculation and design with a multiple-murder death penalty specification and recommended a death sentence, which the trial court imposed.