Jordanian-American testifies in Texas 'honour killings' trial to avoid death penalty

A Jordanian immigrant to the US convicted of behind two deaths that prosecutors described as "honor killings", testified in his defence for the second time on Friday, saying witnesses lied.

Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, 60, who is facing trial in the southern US state of Texas, faces life in prison without parole.

Irsan was convicted by a Harris County jury last month of two separate "honor killings" that took place in 2012.

According to the sister of Irsan's slain son-in-law, he came to her home searching for his 18-year-old daughter and threatened to kill her whole family.

Shortly after the visit, Irsan is accused of shooting 29-year-old Amjad Alidam dead after inviting him to his home.

He was also convicted over the killing of a friend of his daughter, who had encouraged the marriage and Irsan's daughter's conversion from Islam to Christianity.

Speaking in his own defence, Irsan told the Texas court on Friday that he regularly gave other people gifts and treated his daughters "like princesses", according to the Houston Chronicle.

Irsan's first wife and daughter had testified earlier, saying that he raped them and subjected them to years of abuse.

Irsan is expected to be the last witness in the trial. The jury must determine whether he will be given life in prison without parole or the death penalty.


Agencies contributed to this report.