Brentwood man arrested in fatal stabbing of 2-year-old daughter and wife
BRENTWOOD, Suffolk County (WABC) -- A Brentwood man is under arrest and accused of fatally stabbing his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
Zanoor Jaffari, 31, pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder in a court appearance Monday.
Investigators with the district attorney's office said he recently moved from Brooklyn to Brentwood and had a history of domestic violence.
Suffolk County police responded to the scene on Jefferson Avenue at 4:40 p.m. Sunday. They had received a call about 10 minutes earlier from a man who was hysterical.
Authorities found Misbah Batool, 33, and Iazia Zanoor, 2, with stab wounds.
They were transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore where they were pronounced dead.
Another 5-year-old child inside the home was found uninjured.
Jaffari was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for a medical evaluation and released into police custody.
"When the patrol units arrived on scene, we had the female victim and the child with significant stab wounds," said Chief of Detectives John Rowan, Suffolk County Police Department. "The male victim was having a medical emergency, which exhibited signs of a possible overdose and medical care was provided to him. He was transferred to a local hospital, deemed fit for confinement, and subsequently charged with the two counts of murder in the second degree."
Zanoor's defense attorney said they were unaware of any history of domestic violence.
"We believe him to be a loving and compassionate father," attorney Lawrence Carra said.
A dozen of Zanoor's family members were seen supporting him at his court appearance Monday.
A neighbor said the family moved into their home months ago.
"That's terrible, terrible, unheard of around here," neighbor Louis Ferreras said. "We're all good people, all family members. I have kids here, kids over there, kids next door, kids over there, but it's something that we wouldn't expect or believe that could happen around us."
If convicted, Zanoor could face 25 years to life in prison.
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