Gold trader to be executed for killing wife in battle to control multi-million dollar company
4
View
comments
Dead: Pamela Fayed was allegedly killed in 2008 in an attack arranged by her husband James because of issues surrounding their costly divorce battle
A wealthy gold dealer who murdered his estranged wife as they fought for control of his multi-million dollar trading business has been sentenced to death.
A Los Angeles jury decided on Tuesday that James Fayed, 48, should face the death penalty.
He was convicted two weeks ago of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the fatal stabbing of his wife, Pamela.
Prosecutors claimed that Fayed arranged the killing of his wife because he was embroiled in a costly divorce and feared she would give evidence against him in a federal probe into their business.
Fayed’s lawyers had argued that he should be spared the death penalty as he had no history if violence and had not behaved in that way until he became addicted to prescription drugs while battling depression.
The court had heard that the gold dealer confessed he masterminded the murder of his estranged wife to a prison cellmate.
Fayed had also allegedly plotted from behind bars to kill one of the men he is accused of paying to carry out the hit.
In court: James Fayed is told verdict that he will be sentenced to death
Sentenced to death: Businessman Fayed also allegedly plotted from behind bars to kill one of the men he is accused of paying to carry out the hit on his wife
Deputy Los Angeles District Attorney Eric Harmon said the case amounted to a love story, but one that involved 'boy meets gold' rather than 'boy meets girl.'
'It's that greed, that love of gold, that caused this man to have his wife murdered for financial gain,' he added.
Jurors at Los Angeles Superior Court heard excerpts of a tape secretly recorded by the inmate in which Fayed, 48, talked about his 'money-grabbing' wife.
RELATED ARTICLES
Woman caught wheeling trash can with man's body parts inside up street 
Patient shoots dead the top surgeon who saved his life with double organ transplant
When I said our relationship needed a boost... Massachusetts man arrested after 'lifting his girlfriend's car...
Share this article
Share'If she'd just kept her mouth shut,' he said.
Mr Harmon said the jailed businessman complained to the inmate that the hitmen passed up several better opportunities to kill his wife before choosing a crowded parking garage.
Mrs Fayed, 44, was attacked on July 28, 2008, on the third floor of a Los Angeles garage as she walked to her car after a meeting earlier that afternoon with her husband and their lawyers.
She was seeking $66,000 per month in support and attorney fees and was battling with her husband for control of their precious-metals business.
She also demanded nearly $1million from Fayed, alleging that he had failed to give her access to the company's books.
The couple were supposed to be back in court the day after the murder. Mrs Fayed was getting into her car when she was stabbed 13 times by a hooded attacker.
The man fled in a red Suzuki truck that had been rented by the Fayeds' business, Goldfinger Inc., said prosecutors.
Police later found the victim's blood inside the SUV, even though it had been cleaned after the killing.
According to Mr Harmon, Fayed also discussed paying the cellmate to arrange the killings of the men he had used to carry out the attack on his wife.
Prosecutors allege that Fayed paid Jose Moya, an employee at his Moorpark ranch, $25,000 to carry out the murder-for-hire.
Mr Harmon said Moya, a gang member, hired another gang member, Gabriel Marquez, to help - then Marquez, in turn, hired Steven Simmons, a member of the same gang, to stab Pamela Fayed.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2BdIWRcm1sZ3ekuaV506uYnZ2iYpeiucSsZH%2BZqZqxbrHXnpqurJWZeqy1y6Wgp59drLansY2hq6ak