BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Last month, a jury took less than less than an hour to find a man guilty of a double murder that took place in 2002. On Monday during the penalty phase of the trial, the jury recommended that the defendant receive the death sentence. The vote was 11-1 in favor of the death penalty.
This was the second jury to find Khalid Ali Pasha, guilty of killing his wife, Mrs. Robin Canady, 43, and his 20-year-old stepdaughter, Ms. Raneha Singleton, on August 23, 2002 murders.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, around 11 p.m. on August 23, 2002, Mrs. Canady, and her daughter, were sitting in a vehicle near their residence at 4502 Seedling Circle.
An unidentified suspect reportedly slit the throats of both women and then placed their bodies in a wooded area. Witnesses observed a suspect wearing a blood-covered jumpsuit enter a van and flee the scene.
The following day, on August 24th, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Pasha and charged him with the double murder.
The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office decided to seek the death penalty.
Pasha’s first trial took place in 2007. He had requested to represent himself, but was denied the opportunity.
After his conviction, Pasha filed an appeal and in 2010, the Florida Supreme Court reversed the conviction. During his trial at the end of January, Pasha represented himself in the double homicide case and was convicted again.
On April 23, 2002, four months before the double murders occurred, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic battery call in the 4500 block of Dolphin Drive. Pasha was the alleged victim. Mrs. Canady was charged with aggravated battery with great bodily harm, domestic battery.
According to the police report, Pasha told the investigating officers that Mrs. Canady struck him with a rock on his left jaw. “When deputies arrived, he had a minor contusion on his left jaw. She stated that he dumped a beer in her lap and tried to choke her. Deputies saw no marks on her to indicate that he had choked her,” the report said.
Four months and two days later, someone attacked Mrs. Canady and her daughter and cut their throats before placing their bodies in a wooded area.
Mark Cox, spokesman for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office said Pasha will appear before Judge Kimberly Fernandez on March 28th, for a Spencer Hearing.
During the hearing, the prosecution as well as the defense will have an opportunity to present additional information before Judge Fernandez rule in the case.
