An Iranian woman appeared in court this week, accused of murdering 11 husbands to gain their wealth. The case is one of the largest serial murder cases in the country’s recent history.
According to prosecutors, Kulthum Akbari allegedly poisoned her elderly husbands over 22 years, starting in 2000. She used a mix of diabetes and sexual enhancement drugs to slowly kill them. In some cases, industrial alcohol was also involved.
The case came to light in 2023 after the death of Azizollah Babaei. Babaei’s son grew suspicious and alerted the authorities. A family acquaintance revealed that Babaei had previously been married to a woman named Kulthum, who once tried to kill him. The family recognised her as Babaei’s last wife.
Court records show that the Iranian woman confessed during interrogation. Prosecutors said Akbari married elderly men and killed them one by one to inherit their assets. Since the victims were old and had health issues, their deaths were initially seen as natural. This allowed her to continue for over two decades without detection.
During a hearing at the Sari Revolutionary Court, families of four victims asked for Akbari’s execution under Islamic law. More than 45 plaintiffs are involved in the ongoing case.
Akbari’s lawyer requested a mental health evaluation. However, one plaintiff argued the detailed planning proved she acted with clear intent.
The charges against the Iranian woman include 11 counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder. Prosecutors say greed for wealth motivated her crimes.
The court will announce a verdict once all proceedings are completed.
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