Arab Pop Idol judge’s husband charged after shooting dead a masked intruder

Arab Pop Idol judge’s husband is charged by police after shooting dead a masked intruder armed with a fake gun in Lebanon

  • Fadi El-Hachem shot Syrian Mohammed Hassan al-Moussa 16 times in January
  • Dentist Mr El-Hachem is the husband of former-Arab Idol judge Nancy Ajram 
  • Mr El-Hachem charged with ‘intentional killing, but in legitimate self-defence’
  • Mr al-Moussa’s family claim he was a gardener who worked for the couple 

The husband of a Lebanese superstar has been charged by police after shooting dead a masked intruder who broke into their family home with a fake gun.

Fadi El-Hachem – the dentist husband of former-Arab Idol judge Nancy Ajram – shot Syrian Mohammed Hassan al-Moussa 16 times during the break-in north of Beirut.

Mr El-Hachem has been charged with ‘intentional killing, but in legitimate self-defence’ following the shooting in January.

Mr al-Moussa’s family claim he was a gardener who worked for the couple and had gone to the house to ask for money he was due.

Security footage appeared to show a masked gunman breaking into the property while the couple’s three daughters – aged 11, 9 and one –  were inside. 

Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram

Fadi El-Hachem (left with Nancy Ajram) – the dentist husband of former-Arab Idol judge Nancy Ajram (right) – has been charged by police after shooting a masked intruder after he broke into their family home with a fake gun

Security footage showed a masked gunman apparently breaking into their home while the couple's three daughters - aged 11, 9 and one (pictured) - were inside

Security footage showed a masked gunman apparently breaking into their home while the couple’s three daughters – aged 11, 9 and one (pictured) – were inside

Armed Mr Hachem shot the intruder 16 times during a struggle. It was later found that Mr al-Moussa’s gun was fake.

Mr El-Hachem is unlikely to face the 20-year maximum sentence usually imposed in murder cases due to Mr al-Moussa’s death being in self defence.

Both 37-year-old Ms Ajram and Mr al-Moussa’s family have gone on television to talk about what happened, The Times reports.

Ms Ajram – who claims the family did not know Mr al-Moussa – hid in the bathroom once they realised someone had broken in.

She insisted that Mr El-Hachem shot Mr al-Moussa to protect the couple’s young children and said: ‘Before anything, Fadi is a father and a husband. He is a human being.’

Mr El-Hachem (right, pictured with his family) has been charged with 'intentional killing, but in legitimate self-defence' following the shooting in January

Mr El-Hachem (right, pictured with his family) has been charged with ‘intentional killing, but in legitimate self-defence’ following the shooting in January

Armed Mr Hachem (pictured with Ms Ajram) shot the intruder 16 times during a struggle. It was later found that Mr al-Moussa's gun was fake

Armed Mr Hachem (pictured with Ms Ajram) shot the intruder 16 times during a struggle. It was later found that Mr al-Moussa’s gun was fake

Both 37-year-old Ms Ajram (pictured) and Mr al-Moussa's family have gone on television to talk about what happened

Both 37-year-old Ms Ajram (pictured) and Mr al-Moussa’s family have gone on television to talk about what happened

Ms Ajram is the face of several top brands in the Arab world after rising to prominence as a teenage singer.

The shooting of Mr al-Moussa drew significant interest in the country, with many commenting on his Syrian nationality.

More than one million Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war are currently in Lebanon. 

Ms Ajram - who claims the family (pictured) did not know Mr al-Moussa - hid in the bathroom once they realised someone had broken in

Ms Ajram – who claims the family (pictured) did not know Mr al-Moussa – hid in the bathroom once they realised someone had broken in

Ms Ajram (pictured) is the face of several top brands in the Arab world after rising to prominence as a teenage singer

Ms Ajram (pictured) is the face of several top brands in the Arab world after rising to prominence as a teenage singer

Many work as non-contracted labourers and are open to exploitation due to work permits being notoriously hard to come by.

The number of Syrian people currently residing in Lebanon is a subject of contention for some.

Most refugees are Sunni Muslim which some of Lebanon’s Shia and Christian population fear could compromise the country’s religious balance.

Leave a Comment