Matthew Sanders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City man accused of stabbing his wife to death this week at their home pleaded not guilty Friday, claiming a mental disease or defect.
Malang J. Akbari, 46, was charged Tuesday with murdering his wife, Manhaz Akbari, by stabbing her to death in their home on East McCarty Street. Court documents say Malang Akbari suspected his wife of cheating. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, child endangerment and armed criminal action.
An Amber Alert was issued for two of Akbari’s children — an infant and a 12-year-old. The infant was later found at Akbari’s brother’s house, according to court documents. The alert was canceled, stating that the children were safe, but the older child’s whereabouts have not been stated publicly.
One of the Akbaris’ adult children found his mother stabbed after getting a call from his father, according to court documents. The couple has 11 children total, the youngest being almost 2-years-old. Ashley Qasem, a family friend to the Akbaris, tells ABC 17 News the three oldest children will take over caregiving duties of the other eight children.
“For the older kids, their biggest focus is making sure that all of them stay together. They’re a very, very close family,” Qasem said.
Malang Akbari’s lawyer, David Moen, said in court Friday that Akbari pleaded not guilty because of a mental disease or defect, claiming Akbari has PTSD from his time serving alongside American armed forces in Afghanistan. Moen said Akbari might also have lead poisoning from pieces of the metal in his body from shootings and grenade shrapnel.
Moen described Akbari as a “war hero” who spent six years in combat against the Taliban. Akbari’s family was relocated to a military base in New Jersey in August 2021 before resettling in Jefferson City that December, Moen said.
Qasem first met Malang and Manhaz Akbari’s family nearly five years ago.
“At the Columbia airport when they were first getting resettled here as refugees, I went there with them to their house and helped them settle in and stuff,” Qasem said.
Their families also attend the same Mosque in Jefferson City.
“They were both always very loving, very warm, very welcoming,” Qazem said.
She said she never would have expected the tragedy that unfolded on Monday.
“This is not what Islam teaches,” Qasem said. “This really, truly was just a horrific act of domestic violence and it never should have happened. This is not something that a muslim man is allowed to do to his wife for any circumstance.”
The Akbari children are in temporary housing arrangements with family members as they work to find their new normal, a fundraiser has been organized to gather donations.
“It’s important that we focus our energy on supporting the children and the family as they navigate this loss,” Qasem said.
A Cole County judge entered a not guilty plea, and he told Moen that he will need to file paperwork for a mental health evaluation.
A preliminary hearing for Akbari was scheduled for Feb. 19.
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