Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Denies Eating Wife, Admits Stabbing Her 250 Times
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A Queens man who admitted to stabbing his wife upwards of 250 times wants to make sure people don't get the wrong impression of him: he's no Hannibal Lecter.
Mohammad Solaiman, 52, was sentenced to 15-years-to-life yesterday for the murder of his wife Shahida Sultanna, who he stabbed more than 250 times in their home in Jamaica, Queens in December 2007. Their four-year-old daughter was in the next room while the murder took place. Sister-in-law Ferdousi Begum broke down when she took the stand yesterday, accusing Solaiman of eating his wife's innards: "He took out her liver and her lungs and he ate it. He drank her blood. Her daughter told me that."
Despite the outburst, both prosecutors and defense lawyers don't believe Solaiman ate his wife: "He may have killed his wife but he didn't turn into a cannibal," his lawyer John Scarpa said. Scarpa had argued that Solaiman had suffered years of physical abuse at the hands of his 32-year-old wife, but there were no records of any abuse. Though Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter agreed Solaiman wasn't a cannibal, he did castigate him for a different kind of barbarity: "In a final act of savagery he exposed his four-year-old daughter to this horrific murder scene. If that's not savagery, I don't know what is."
Tagged
crime
hannibal lecter
murder
queens
stab
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .