A Pakistani man has been sentenced to death in Islamabad for the murder of Noor Mukadam, who spent over a decade in Ireland while her father served at the Pakistani Embassy in Dublin.
Friends of Ms Mukadam had paid tribute to the 27-year-old in Dublin when she was murdered last July.
Ms Mukadam attended Our Lady's Grove school in Goatstown and was remembered fondly by her friends.
At the time, Kimberly Kearns said of her friend Noor: "She never had anything bad to say, was amazing in all her exams - she was always studying, always doing homework, she was the nicest person ever."
Zahir Jaffer, who has joint American-Pakistani nationality, was found guilty in the district court in Islamabad.
The 30-year-old attacked Noor Mukadam at his home in July last year after she refused his marriage proposal - torturing her and using a "sharp-edged weapon" to behead her.
Ms Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former ambassador, had made repeated attempts to escape the sprawling mansion but was blocked by two members of staff.
"The main accused has been awarded the death sentence," said judge Atta Rabbani at the Islamabad district court. According to court documents, the judge ordered Mr Jaffer to be hanged.
Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, were found not guilty of attempting to cover up the crime.
The two staff members were sentenced to 10 years in prison for abetting murder.
Of the verdict, Shaukat Mukadam, the victim's father said: "The maximum sentence was necessary. I've been saying that this is not just my daughter's case, it is a case for all the daughters of my country."
Close friend of the family, Mariyam Burki said while they welcomed the verdict, it would not bring Noor back.
She said Noor was "a wonderful person, very respectful, very religious, very helpful. She would take time out for everybody. She was a good soul, she loved animals. She would be there to help [anyone] out in all possible manner. Noor was especially gifted; she had a very big heart."
The long-running trial drew much attention in Pakistan and further afield, due to the brutal nature of the murder, and because it concerned two families from the elite of Pakistani society.
There had been public pressure for the trial to conclude swiftly in a country where the justice system is sluggish, and cases typically drag on for years.
According to the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell, a group providing legal assistance to vulnerable women, the conviction rate for cases of violence against women is lower than 3%.
Victims of sexual and domestic abuse are often too afraid to speak out, and criminal complaints are frequently not investigated seriously.
Jaffer, who will be able to challenge today’s verdict, was thrown out of court several times during the trial for his behaviour.
He was frequently carried into proceedings by stretcher or wheelchair, and his lawyers argued he should be found not "mentally sound" - a manoeuvre prosecutors said was designed to suspend the trial.
Parents of Zahir acquitted and Therapy works have been acquitted.
— Justice for Noor (@justicefornoor) February 24, 2022
Zahir sentenced to death. 2 of the house staff have got 10 years. #JusticeForNoor
