SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Marine was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the special circumstances stabbing murder of a pregnant woman. Ahmad Rashad Siddiqi, 27, Alexandria, Virginia, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 23, 2015, of one felony count of special circumstances murder by lying in wait with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.

At the time of the crime, the defendant was a former Marine living in Alexandria, Virginia. Siddiqi was involved in a long-distance dating relationship with 24-year-old Soraya Faroqi, who was a civilian translator in Afghanistan and provided interpreter services for U.S. troops. Faroqi had returned to Orange County from Afghanistan on Dec. 13, 2011, and was in her first trimester of pregnancy.

On Dec. 18, 2011, the defendant flew from his home in Virginia to Orange County to talk with Faroqi about the status of their relationship. On Dec. 19, 2011, Siddiqi met with the victim in the Westminster apartment of Faroqi's friend.

During a discussion of their relationship inside the apartment, the defendant chased Faroqi from the apartment with a knife. He pushed her into the bushes in a nearby carport and repeatedly stabbed Faroqi as her friend screamed for him to stop. Faroqi and her unborn child died as a result of the injuries.

Witnesses called 911 and the Westminster Police Department arrested the defendant at the scene.

At the sentencing today, the victim's brother, aunt, and close friend delivered impact statements to the court pursuant to Marsy's Law. They described what a positive person she was and how much happiness she brought to their lives.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 12ZF0152 / October 30, 2015