Christians Under Attack

Homaidan Al-Turki, 37, of Saudi Arabia, who lives in Aurora, was initially charged with kidnapping and sexual assault. But after a day of deliberation, the jury convicted Al-Turki on reduced charges of false imprisonment and unlawful sexual contact, as well as the original charges of theft and criminal extortion.

Al-Turki, a linguistics doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado at Boulder, now faces up to life in prison at his sentencing Aug. 31.

Authorities say for four years Al-Turki kept the 24-year-old Indonesian woman as a slave in the family home, forcing her to cook and clean and take care of the family and their five children with little pay. Prosecutors say Al-Turki eventually intimidated the woman into sex acts that culminated in her rape in late 2004.

The defense said many of the allegations were simply misconstrued cultural differences, or what attorney John Richilano called "cynical Islamaphobia."

The 2 1/2-week trial ended in drama in the courtroom, with as many as nine sheriff's deputies trying to keep peace while Al-Turki's supporters howled at the verdict that was delivered after a day of deliberation.

One man was forcibly removed

because of his loud sobbing. A woman collapsed at the courtroom door after seeing Al-Turki taken away in handcuffs. He is being held without bail in the Arapahoe County jail until his sentencing. Al-Turki, wearing a white robe, at first showed little emotion - touching his left index finger to his nose - as Judge J. Mark Hannen read the verdicts. But after the jury left the courtroom, Al-Turki began to sob and hug his family and friends. His attorney, Dan Recht, refused to comment on the verdict, other than to say they will appeal. Both Al-Turki and his wife, Sarah Khonaizan, were charged with state and federal crimes. Khonaizan has reached plea agreements in exchange for avoiding jail sentences and has agreed to be deported. Al-Turki still faces federal charges of harboring the nanny, whose visa had expired, and underpaying her. Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.