Murder defendant calls courthouse "cursed place"

DOUGLAS cOUNTY, Ga. — Sahara Fakhir, who is charged with murdering Jerry Wheeler, told a Douglas County courtroom that Allah was her lawyer and she demanded a judge release her or face the consequences.

"If you're judging me, and you're not, you're not God-fearing, Allah will have his vengeance on you and everyone else here that is not God-fearing. I understand that," she said.

The 32-year-old Douglasville resident made her first court appearance to face murder charges in the death of Wheeler, 66, who was found stabbed to death on June 19.

Wheeler was a local businessman, father and grandfather. His son, who is a deputy sheriff in Douglas County, discovered his body.

The judge asked Fakhir, who did not enter a plea, if she is going to get a lawyer.

"Allah is my lawyer. And if you do not release me, Allah will have his vengeance on you like he did in 2009 when he sent that flood," said Fakhir. "It's only going to get worse."

Channel 2's Tom Regan spoke with Fakhir's mother who said her daughter was not threatening the judge or anyone in the courtroom.

"She was upset and felt she would get injustice in Douglas County," said Barbara Fakhir. "The only thing she was saying was, when you're wrong, God is watching you."

Fakhir said her daughter did not know the victim, who lived around the corner in their neighborhood, and had nothing to with the killing.

"She don't know anybody over there," said Fakhir. "She can barely walk to the mailbox. My daughter didn't go around and kill him. What would be the motive?"

The mother also said Fakhir had a 2009 run-in with law officers, involving an exchange of angry words. She was charged with making terroristic threats.

"I'm not surprised what Douglas County will do," she said. "They're used to trumping (up) charges on people."

District Attorney David McDade said investigators found probable cause to seek a murder warrant against the defendant, but would not discuss evidence or a possible motive. He also said Fakhir could face additional charges for her behavior in the courtroom.

WSBTV