Man Gets Life Without Parole for Girlfriend’s Beating Death

A kick boxer from Orange who tied up his girlfriend with duct tape, repeatedly sexually assaulted her and then bludgeoned her to death with a hammer was sentenced Friday to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

After listening to tearful testimony from the victim’s family and friends, Orange County Superior Court Judge David O. Carter upheld a jury’s recommendation that Shaleke S. Nasir spend the rest of his life in prison.

Last month, jurors found Nasir guilty of first-degree murder, robbery and attempted rape in the August, 1991, death of Lena M. Forbes, 21, of Huntington Beach.

The jury’s decision to recommend a life sentence, instead of the death penalty, surprised many, including the defense team.

Defense attorneys have credited Nasir’s mother, Fowzia, for saving her son’s life with compelling testimony last month in which she told jurors that no matter what their decision, they could not break the bond between mother and son.

On Friday, the victim’s mother, Linda Forbes, had her turn to speak. Sobbing and shaking before the judge, she said, “Words alone can’t even describe the devastating trauma of losing a child. To hear the words, ‘Your daughter has been murdered,’ destroyed our world.”

“My nightmare doesn’t stop,” Forbes said, “My thoughts go on to visualize how this parasite bound her hands and mouth with duct tape. Beat her, raped her violently. . . . My God, this is not a person from the human race.”

Prosecutor Chuck Middleton told the judge that he sought the death penalty because of the vicious nature of Nasir’s crime. “The day Mr. Nasir dies in jail, society will benefit,” Middleton said.

Carter told Nasir that “the violence in this case is absolutely beyond comprehension” and that he would have imposed the death penalty had the jury recommended it.

At one point before sentencing, defense attorney Milton Grimes appealed to the judge to leave open the possibility of parole, but Carter rejected the motion.

In an interview, Grimes said he believes Nasir is remorseful for his actions.

“He has not demonstrated a callous, unrehabilitative character. He’s religious. I believe he can be rehabilitated and become a productive member of society,” Grimes said.

After the hearing, Linda Forbes, surrounded by her two daughters and a group of friends, said she will try to rebuild her life.