Life sentence expected for murder of Muslim teen in Virginia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - This file photo provided by the Fairfax County Police Department shows Darwin Martinez-Torres, of Sterling, Va. Martinez-Torres is expected to receive a life sentence for raping and killing a Muslim teenager as she walked back to a mosque with friends for religious services. (Fairfax County Police Department via AP, File)
A northern Virginia man is expected to receive a life sentence for raping and killing a Muslim teenager as she walked back to a mosque with friends for pre-dawn religious services.
Darwin Martinez-Torres of Sterling struck a plea bargain last year in the June 2017 slaying of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen of Reston. That plea bargain requires the judge to impose a sentence of life without parole, in exchange for eliminating a potential death sentence.
Hassanen's death received widespread attention amid concerns her slaying was motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment. Prosecutors, though, say Martinez-Torres attacked her after he got out of his car to chase Nabra's group of friends in a road-rage confrontation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Martinez-Torres is a native of El Salvador; immigration authorities say he was in the country illegally.