Topline: A jury acquitted a couple of attempted murder charges in an attack on their teenage daughter.
Published: August 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Left is Zahraa Ali and right is Ihsan Ali, in court on July 14, 2025. (KOMO NEWS)
LACEY, WA — A Thurston County jury found a couple not guilty of attempted murder in the assault of their teenage daughter.
The verdict was reached after a trial focused on a physical attack on their teenage daughter outside Timberline High School in October 2024.
The father, Ihsan Ali, 44, was convicted of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, and unlawful imprisonment. His wife, Zahraa Ali, 40, was found guilty of violating a protective order. She was acquitted of all other charges. Sentencing for both parents is scheduled for mid-August.
The daughter, who was 17 at the time, ran away from home on the morning of the attack, as reported by The Olympian. She was trying to get to a shelter.
Court records state she had previously told investigators her parents planned to send her to Iraq for an arranged marriage to an older man. Her father had also threatened her with an “honor killing.”
According to the Daily Mail, due to a pretrial ruling by Judge Christine Schaller, prosecutors were not allowed to discuss the alleged motive behind the assault. The judge ruled that mentioning arranged marriage, threats of “honor killings” or the family’s history of abuse could unfairly bias the jury.
As a result, the phrase “honor killing” was never used in the courtroom, and prosecutors focused on the severity of the attack in their opening statement instead of the motive.
The assault took place in front of Timberline High School. Witnesses, including other students and adults, saw the confrontation.
The girl’s 16-year-old boyfriend was also present and tried to help her. A video captured by a bystander showed Ihsan Ali on top of his daughter, allegedly choking her.
Witnesses at the trial testified that during the chokehold, the girl’s eyes rolled back and her lips turned blue. The boyfriend and other bystanders worked to separate the father and daughter.
As the father’s grip weakened, the daughter was pulled out of the chokehold. The mother then allegedly grabbed her daughter. An adult bystander intervened and held the mother until police arrived.
The girl and her boyfriend ran into the high school. The school was placed on lockdown. Police arrived and arrested Ihsan Ali.
The boyfriend’s father, Victor Barnes, said his son was also punched by Ihsan Ali during the confrontation. Barnes said his son later took out a restraining order against the parents.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Prosecutor Heather Stone, told the jury the actions of Ihsan Ali were an attempt to kill his daughter. During closing arguments, Stone noted that multiple witnesses testified to seeing the girl’s eyes roll back and her face turn pale.
The defense for Ihsan Ali, attorney Erik Kaeding, argued the incident was a family disagreement escalated by the boyfriend. Kaeding told the jury the boyfriend pushed the father and daughter to the ground. “There’s no nefarious intent,” Kaeding said. “There’s an intent to take your daughter home.”
Kaeding said the father was trying to protect his daughter on the bottom of the pile, and her neck was compressed by accident. “There’s no intent to hurt anybody badly, there’s no intent to kill anybody,” Kaeding added. The defense for Zahraa Ali, attorney Tim Leary, made similar arguments.
Leary said his client was trying to console her daughter, not choke her. He noted that the daughter testified she did not believe her mother was trying to hurt her. Leary also said, “They certainly could’ve done things differently, but that does not make this a crime.”
Court documents show the daughter had reported prior abuse by both parents before the high school incident. The boyfriend’s father also stated that school staff knew about the girl’s situation before the attack.
Following the verdict, Zahraa Ali was released from custody on her own recognizance but is under strict conditions. She is ordered not to leave Thurston County and must follow all no-contact orders.
Ihsan Ali remains in custody until his mid-August sentencing.
The daughter has not spoken publicly since the verdict.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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The Verdict: Parents Not Guilty of ‘Honor Killing’ in Ali vs Ali
A jury acquitted a couple of attempted murder charges in an attack on their teenage daughter.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Left is Zahraa Ali and right is Ihsan Ali, in court on July 14, 2025. (KOMO NEWS)
LACEY, WA — A Thurston County jury found a couple not guilty of attempted murder in the assault of their teenage daughter.
The verdict was reached after a trial focused on a physical attack on their teenage daughter outside Timberline High School in October 2024.
The father, Ihsan Ali, 44, was convicted of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, and unlawful imprisonment. His wife, Zahraa Ali, 40, was found guilty of violating a protective order. She was acquitted of all other charges. Sentencing for both parents is scheduled for mid-August.
The daughter, who was 17 at the time, ran away from home on the morning of the attack, as reported by The Olympian. She was trying to get to a shelter.
Court records state she had previously told investigators her parents planned to send her to Iraq for an arranged marriage to an older man. Her father had also threatened her with an “honor killing.”
According to the Daily Mail, due to a pretrial ruling by Judge Christine Schaller, prosecutors were not allowed to discuss the alleged motive behind the assault. The judge ruled that mentioning arranged marriage, threats of “honor killings” or the family’s history of abuse could unfairly bias the jury.
As a result, the phrase “honor killing” was never used in the courtroom, and prosecutors focused on the severity of the attack in their opening statement instead of the motive.
The assault took place in front of Timberline High School. Witnesses, including other students and adults, saw the confrontation.
The girl’s 16-year-old boyfriend was also present and tried to help her. A video captured by a bystander showed Ihsan Ali on top of his daughter, allegedly choking her.
Witnesses at the trial testified that during the chokehold, the girl’s eyes rolled back and her lips turned blue. The boyfriend and other bystanders worked to separate the father and daughter.
As the father’s grip weakened, the daughter was pulled out of the chokehold. The mother then allegedly grabbed her daughter. An adult bystander intervened and held the mother until police arrived.
The girl and her boyfriend ran into the high school. The school was placed on lockdown. Police arrived and arrested Ihsan Ali.
The boyfriend’s father, Victor Barnes, said his son was also punched by Ihsan Ali during the confrontation. Barnes said his son later took out a restraining order against the parents.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Prosecutor Heather Stone, told the jury the actions of Ihsan Ali were an attempt to kill his daughter. During closing arguments, Stone noted that multiple witnesses testified to seeing the girl’s eyes roll back and her face turn pale.
The defense for Ihsan Ali, attorney Erik Kaeding, argued the incident was a family disagreement escalated by the boyfriend. Kaeding told the jury the boyfriend pushed the father and daughter to the ground. “There’s no nefarious intent,” Kaeding said. “There’s an intent to take your daughter home.”
Kaeding said the father was trying to protect his daughter on the bottom of the pile, and her neck was compressed by accident. “There’s no intent to hurt anybody badly, there’s no intent to kill anybody,” Kaeding added. The defense for Zahraa Ali, attorney Tim Leary, made similar arguments.
Leary said his client was trying to console her daughter, not choke her. He noted that the daughter testified she did not believe her mother was trying to hurt her. Leary also said, “They certainly could’ve done things differently, but that does not make this a crime.”
Court documents show the daughter had reported prior abuse by both parents before the high school incident. The boyfriend’s father also stated that school staff knew about the girl’s situation before the attack.
Following the verdict, Zahraa Ali was released from custody on her own recognizance but is under strict conditions. She is ordered not to leave Thurston County and must follow all no-contact orders.
Ihsan Ali remains in custody until his mid-August sentencing.
The daughter has not spoken publicly since the verdict.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
The Verdict: Parents Not Guilty of ‘Honor Killing’ in Ali vs Ali
A jury acquitted a couple of attempted murder charges in an attack on their teenage daughter.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Left is Zahraa Ali and right is Ihsan Ali, in court on July 14, 2025. (KOMO NEWS)
LACEY, WA — A Thurston County jury found a couple not guilty of attempted murder in the assault of their teenage daughter.
The verdict was reached after a trial focused on a physical attack on their teenage daughter outside Timberline High School in October 2024.
The father, Ihsan Ali, 44, was convicted of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, and unlawful imprisonment. His wife, Zahraa Ali, 40, was found guilty of violating a protective order. She was acquitted of all other charges. Sentencing for both parents is scheduled for mid-August.
The daughter, who was 17 at the time, ran away from home on the morning of the attack, as reported by The Olympian. She was trying to get to a shelter.
Court records state she had previously told investigators her parents planned to send her to Iraq for an arranged marriage to an older man. Her father had also threatened her with an “honor killing.”
According to the Daily Mail, due to a pretrial ruling by Judge Christine Schaller, prosecutors were not allowed to discuss the alleged motive behind the assault. The judge ruled that mentioning arranged marriage, threats of “honor killings” or the family’s history of abuse could unfairly bias the jury.
As a result, the phrase “honor killing” was never used in the courtroom, and prosecutors focused on the severity of the attack in their opening statement instead of the motive.
The assault took place in front of Timberline High School. Witnesses, including other students and adults, saw the confrontation.
The girl’s 16-year-old boyfriend was also present and tried to help her. A video captured by a bystander showed Ihsan Ali on top of his daughter, allegedly choking her.
Witnesses at the trial testified that during the chokehold, the girl’s eyes rolled back and her lips turned blue. The boyfriend and other bystanders worked to separate the father and daughter.
As the father’s grip weakened, the daughter was pulled out of the chokehold. The mother then allegedly grabbed her daughter. An adult bystander intervened and held the mother until police arrived.
The girl and her boyfriend ran into the high school. The school was placed on lockdown. Police arrived and arrested Ihsan Ali.
The boyfriend’s father, Victor Barnes, said his son was also punched by Ihsan Ali during the confrontation. Barnes said his son later took out a restraining order against the parents.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Prosecutor Heather Stone, told the jury the actions of Ihsan Ali were an attempt to kill his daughter. During closing arguments, Stone noted that multiple witnesses testified to seeing the girl’s eyes roll back and her face turn pale.
The defense for Ihsan Ali, attorney Erik Kaeding, argued the incident was a family disagreement escalated by the boyfriend. Kaeding told the jury the boyfriend pushed the father and daughter to the ground. “There’s no nefarious intent,” Kaeding said. “There’s an intent to take your daughter home.”
Kaeding said the father was trying to protect his daughter on the bottom of the pile, and her neck was compressed by accident. “There’s no intent to hurt anybody badly, there’s no intent to kill anybody,” Kaeding added. The defense for Zahraa Ali, attorney Tim Leary, made similar arguments.
Leary said his client was trying to console her daughter, not choke her. He noted that the daughter testified she did not believe her mother was trying to hurt her. Leary also said, “They certainly could’ve done things differently, but that does not make this a crime.”
Court documents show the daughter had reported prior abuse by both parents before the high school incident. The boyfriend’s father also stated that school staff knew about the girl’s situation before the attack.
Following the verdict, Zahraa Ali was released from custody on her own recognizance but is under strict conditions. She is ordered not to leave Thurston County and must follow all no-contact orders.
Ihsan Ali remains in custody until his mid-August sentencing.
The daughter has not spoken publicly since the verdict.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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