Who is Menhaz Zaman? Man kills parents, sister and grandma before 'graduation' so they won't know he dropped out
A 24-year-old man killed his mother, father, grandmother and sister just a day before his graduation as he did not want them to find out that he had dropped out of university. The incident, which had taken place in July 2019 in Canada, saw Menhaz Zaman murdering his mother, Momotaz Begum, 50, father Moniruz Zaman, 59, sister Melesa, and grandmother Firoza Begum, 70. Zaman had told his family that he was pursuing an engineering degree at York University.
Zaman had enrolled at Seneca College. However, he started getting low grades and eventually failed the course. He then dropped out of the college and spent time at a local shopping mall, gym and by playing video games. After committing the murders, Zaman had messaged his friends, saying that he had been "planning this for 3 years" and that even though he was a "pathetic coward subhuman", his "shaking has stopped". He had confessed his crime online which led to many reaching out to the authorities to look into the situation. Zaman spoke to the police and said that he had first killed his mother at 3 pm on July 27 last year. When officers had arrived at the house, they were greeted by Zaman who was immediately taken into custody.
He confessed to killing his grandmother an hour after murdering his mother. It is reported that he had slit their throats. After the first two murders, he then "sat around playing video games and napping" while waiting for his father and sister to arrive home, Crown prosecutor Kevin Stewart revealed. As per autopsies, he struck his father and sister on the head with an object like a crowbar and then cut their throats as they lay on the ground. "This were horrible monstrous, brutal killings. They took place in the family home, which was supposed to be a place of security and sancity," the prosecutor revealed. "To have them killed, and to have their own flesh and blood responsible for these killings is beyond comprehension," the prosecutor added.
Zaman spoke to Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst and said that he would like to address the court on Monday, October 26, 2020. He said, "I'm not sure who this is going to reach but I would like to just apologize to anyone I have impacted negatively with my actions and especially to the people who knew my family, and friends and loved ones who I know could never see something from me like this happening. I'm sorry." A victim impact statement read out by Zaman's sister's best friend, Afnam Alibaccas, stated: "I suffered countless sleepless nights. When I did sleep, I had repetitive dreams of her dying. I would start panicking during the day and have mental breakdowns. I don't know how to be close to anyone anymore."
Zaman's defense lawyer, Adele Monaco, said that he had shown remorse for his actions. "Mr Zaman is a 24-year-old man who prior to this had no involvement with the criminal justice system." According to Toronto CTV News, the sentencing hearing was conducted via a video call after Zaman pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder on September 24, 2020.