The ex-wife of a man accused of stabbing a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy to death and wounding his mother testified Wednesday that he had become paranoid about his personal safety and wanted the boy’s mom out of his house after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
Mary Connor was the 12th witness to take the stand for the prosecution in the murder and hate crime trial of Joseph Czuba, who prosecutors say fatally stabbed Wadee Alfayoumi and wounded his mother, Hanan Shaheen, at their suburban Chicago home because of their Islamic faith.
Connor testified that Shaheen rented two rooms from her and Czuba for two years in Plainfield Township, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, and they enjoyed an amicable relationship. Connor, 64, said she occasionally spent time with Shaheen, whom she considered a friend and a very good tenant. Connor said Czuba tried to make the home enjoyable and would sometimes bring home toys and sports equipment for Wadee.
All that changed after Hamas attacked Israel, and Czuba told her, “Mary, I feel that Hanan needs to move,” she said, adding that she asked him why and he asked her whether she was aware of what had happened in Israel.
Connor said Czuba told her, “Hanan needs to move because her friends could come and do us harm.” Connor said she tried to reason with Czuba by telling him that Shaheen had never had a guest in the home, but to no effect.
“I was angry,” Connor testified. “In my mind, there was no reason for her to move.”