Articles
Husband's murder shocks Morocco woman
SALE, Morocco — Zahra Toural was shocked by the shooting death of her husband in the United States. But the Moroccan woman was just as alarmed when her American friend -- who was also married to the victim -- was charged in his killing.
ereleigh Morton was killed last week while sleeping at his home outside Philadelphia. His first wife, Myra Morton, turned herself in Thursday to face murder charges.
"We did everything together, and she was a sister and a friend," Toural, 36, dressed in traditional mourning garb of a white gown and headscarf, told The Associated Press in an interview in her home Tuesday. "She said she was happy here."
The killing happened hours before Jereleigh Morton was to travel to Morocco to try to visit Toural, whom he met on the Internet last year and married in March.
The death rocked the Mortons' Pennsylvania community and its repercussions reached across the Atlantic to this neighborhood on the outskirts of Sale, near Rabat, the Moroccan capital.
Toural said that for Myra Morton, the neighborhood became a second home. "She said she loved Morocco and the whole family loved her. She brought us gifts and helped me improve my English," Toural said.
Myra Morton had reluctantly agreed to the second marriage and even traveled to Morocco to sanction it under Islamic law, authorities have said.
But according to friends and family, Myra Morton, 47, was against her husband's decision to take a second wife after Myra lost the ability to have children.
Islam allows men to marry more than one woman provided they secure the approval of their other wives. Prosecutors have said they aren't sure whether Pennsylvania's polygamy ban would apply to a marriage in a foreign country.
Montgomery County prosecutors charged Myra Morton with first-degree murder and related counts. They suggested that jealousy and control of the Mortons' assets, valued at more than $6 million, were possible motives for the killing.
At least some of Jereleigh Morton's estate may go to Toural if Pennsylvania courts choose to recognize her marriage in Morocco to Morton, her lawyer, Patrick Artur, said Tuesday from Philadelphia.
The Mortons, who came from North Philadelphia, converted to Islam over 20 years ago. They lived in a small Philadelphia row house until a medical malpractice settlement over their teenage daughter's death netted them a reported $8 million in 2005.
Toural said she and Myra Morton became instant friends when the Mortons first visited Morocco last February.
"Jereleigh said from the beginning that he wanted to have children, and Myra didn't have any problem with him taking a second wife," Toural said.
Morton bought a large house for the trio to use in Casablanca, Morocco's commercial capital.
Montgomery County authorities said in an affidavit that Myra Morton had complained to friends and family about Toural.
In April, Myra Morton sent a letter to immigration authorities that ended up at the U.S. State Department.
In it, she wrote that her husband was trying to bring Toural over on a tourist visa. She also urged the government to keep Toural out of the U.S., going so far as to accuse the other woman of having connections to terrorists.
"How could she do that?" Toural said. "I'm not a terrorist. I'm a good person. I took care of her."
Toural said she finds it equally hard to accept that she is a widow.
"I'm still in shock. I still ask myself if (Jereleigh) is really gone."
