A superior court judge in North Carolina ruled on 19 that Craig Hicks is 'death penalty qualified ' He has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of three Muslim college students on February 10 . His victims were Deah Shaddy Barakat , 23 , his wife , Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha , 21 , and her sister , Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha , Monday . The victims ' families are adamant that they were targeted because they were Muslims and have pushed for hate-crime charges .
A superior court judge in North Carolina ruled on Monday that Craig Hicks is 'death penalty qualified ' He has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of three Muslim college students on February 10 . His victims were Deah Shaddy Barakat , 23 , his wife , Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha , 21 , and her sister , Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha , 19 . The victims ' families are adamant that they were targeted because they were Muslims and have pushed for hate-crime charges .