Chapel Hill shooting: Man accused of killing three Muslim students could face death penalty

Family of those killed say they were targeted because they were Muslim

(AP)

The man accused of killing three Muslim students in North Carolina could face the death penalty, a district court judge ruled on Monday.

Craig Stephen Hicks has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 10 February shooting of 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat; his wife, 21-year-old Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and her sister, 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.

On Monday, Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson Jr said Mr Hicks is “death-penalty qualified”. The prosecutor in the case has indicated that he will seek the death penalty for Mr Hicks.

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