EVERETT — Just days before he was to go on trial for what he once called an “honor killing,” Mehdi Matin admitted on Tuesday that he murdered his brother in 2009.
Matin, 63, told Snohomish County sheriff’s homicide detectives he called off his marriage to an Afghan woman more than 20 years ago over an offensive remark his brother, Isa Mehri made about his bride-to-be.
Matin, an Afghan immigrant, said he felt tortured by his decision for years. So when his brother, 60, repeated the remark in 2009, he clobbered his brother in the head with a metal pipe, prosecutors alleged.
Matin was accused of beating Mehri, strangling him with a rope and leaving the body outside for two days before calling 911.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Travis Johnson charged Matin with second-degree murder in 2009.
Matin’s attorney, Gabriel Rothstein earlier had indicated that he planned to pursue an insanity defense for his client. Last month he also filed notice with the court that he intended to prove that his client acted in self-defense.
Matin told detectives that his brother had threatened to get a gun during their argument.
Matin came to visit Mehri at his Lynnwood home about a week before the killing to talk about buying a gas station together, Johnson wrote. Matin said during a conversation Mehri mentioned the woman and again made a disparaging remark.
Detectives said that Matin told them that he went “insane” and beat Mehri unconscious with the pipe. He told them he then strangled his brother to put Mehri out of his misery, Johnson wrote.
Court documents don’t say what Mehri allegedly said about the woman that persuaded Matin not to marry her.
In anticipation of a trial, Johnson changed the charge to first-degree murder.
Matin agreed on Tuesday to plead guilty to second-degree murder. He faces up to 18 years in prison. His attorney plans to ask for sentence below the standard range.
Matin is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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