He confessed, then confessed more, in the horrifying murder and necrophilic rape of his ex – Los Angeles Times

Case Report: State of California v. Zarbab Ali

Introduction and Summary of Verdict

A Ventura County Superior Court jury has convicted Zarbab Ali of first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Rachel Castillo. The verdict, reached after three hours of deliberation, includes special circumstances of using a deadly weapon and murder by means of lying in wait. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. This case serves as a critical example of intimate partner violence, directly contravening several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning gender equality, justice, and well-being.

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Violation of SDG 5: Gender Equality

The murder of Rachel Castillo is a profound violation of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Specifically, this act of femicide directly undermines Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.”

• The crime represents the most extreme form of gender-based violence, perpetrated by an intimate partner.
• The victim, a social worker dedicated to assisting families affected by domestic violence, was herself a victim of the systemic issue she fought against.
• The perpetrator’s stated motivation of blaming the victim for his personal problems highlights the dangerous gender dynamics that can fuel such violence.

Implications for SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

This case also has significant implications for SDG 16, which promotes peaceful societies and access to justice. While the murder represents a failure to achieve Target 16.1 (“Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates”), the subsequent legal process demonstrates the function of institutions in upholding Target 16.3 (“Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all”).

1. Commission of Violent Crime: The premeditated murder is a fundamental breach of peace and security within the community.
2. Institutional Response: Law enforcement conducted an investigation leading to the perpetrator’s arrest.
3. Judicial Process: The Ventura County district attorney’s office prosecuted the case, leading to a trial and jury conviction.
4. Accountability: The verdict and mandatory sentence of life without parole ensure accountability for the crime, reinforcing the rule of law.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The murder of Rachel Castillo has severe consequences for SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The loss of life is the ultimate negative health outcome. Furthermore, the crime inflicts profound and lasting psychological trauma on the victim’s two young children, her family, and the community, directly impacting the objectives of Target 3.4, which focuses on promoting mental health and well-being.

Case Details and Judicial Outcome

Chronology of the Offense

The events leading to the conviction occurred in November 2022.

• Zarbab Ali picked up his two sons, aged 2 and 5, from the victim’s Simi Valley apartment.
• He left the children with his parents and returned to the apartment with a knife, having confessed to premeditating the act for nine months.
• Ali waited for the victim inside her apartment before stabbing her to death.
• He subsequently transported her remains to a remote area in the Antelope Valley, where he buried them in a shallow grave and later returned to desecrate the corpse.

Confession and Conviction

Following his arrest, Ali confessed to the murder. He was found guilty of first-degree murder with special allegations. The sentencing is scheduled for January 12. The case underscores the critical need for continued societal efforts to address domestic violence and advance the Sustainable Development Goals related to gender equality, justice, and public health.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is relevant because the article details a case of lethal violence against a woman by her estranged husband. The murder of Rachel Castillo by Zarbab Ali is a stark example of gender-based violence, specifically intimate partner violence, which is a key concern of SDG 5. The fact that the victim worked with families who were victims of domestic violence further underscores the connection to this goal, which aims to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is connected through its focus on reducing violence and promoting justice. The article describes a violent crime (murder) and the subsequent response of the justice system. The investigation by the Simi Valley police, the confession of the perpetrator, the jury trial, the conviction for first-degree murder, and the impending sentence of life without parole all demonstrate the functioning of legal and judicial institutions to address violent crime and ensure accountability, which are central tenets of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

  The murder of Rachel Castillo by her estranged husband is a direct and extreme example of violence against a woman within the private sphere. The article states that Ali confessed to stabbing his wife to death after their separation, which directly relates to the target of eliminating violence against women, particularly from intimate partners.

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

  The central event of the article is a homicide. The detailed account of the murder—”stabbing his estranged wife to death”—is a clear instance of a violence-related death. This target aims to reduce such occurrences, and the article highlights a failure to prevent this specific act of violence.

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

  The article illustrates the application of the rule of law. It follows the case from the discovery of the crime to the legal conclusion: “the jury convicted Ali on the first-degree murder charge,” and his “sentencing date is set for Jan. 12.” This process of arrest, trial, and conviction demonstrates the justice system’s role in holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable, which is the essence of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides information that directly relates to specific SDG indicators, although it does not present statistical data itself.

• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.

  The article provides a qualitative data point for this indicator. The murder of Rachel Castillo by her “estranged husband,” Zarbab Ali, is a case of lethal physical violence by a former intimate partner. This specific incident would be included in the data used to calculate the prevalence of such violence.

• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

  The article explicitly reports on one case of intentional homicide. Rachel Castillo is a victim whose death would be counted in the official statistics for this indicator. The article specifies her sex (female) and age (25), which are the disaggregating factors required for this indicator.

• Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.

  This indicator is implied through the description of the judicial process. The article notes that Ali was arrested, pleaded guilty after initially pleading not guilty, and was ultimately convicted by a jury. The statement that his “sentencing date is set for Jan. 12” shows the transition of an individual from an unsentenced detainee to a convicted person awaiting sentencing. This successful prosecution and conviction contribute to reducing the proportion of unsentenced detainees by bringing a case to its legal conclusion.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: latimes.com