Iran’s judiciary announced on Monday that a suspect in the stabbing death of renowned director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, has been identified as a former domestic worker. The motive behind the brutal attack is believed to be a financial dispute.
Dariush Mehrjui, aged 83, and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, a 54-year-old screenwriter, were tragically stabbed to death on October 14 at their residence in Karaj, a city in Alborz province located west of Tehran.
According to official news agency IRNA, Alborz province chief justice Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi stated, “The defendants were already familiar with the deceased.” The primary suspect had previously worked as a gardener at Mehrjui’s villa and reportedly harbored grievances related to financial matters.
Reports from media outlets indicated that among the ten individuals detained in connection with the murder case, four had direct involvement. IRNA shared videos of a crime scene reenactment on Monday, depicting four individuals entering the house.
The footage suggested that Mehrjui was seated on his couch, watching television, as the assailants arrived at the villa.
Last week, Fazeli-Harikandi had stated that the investigation pointed toward “personal differences” as the motive behind the tragic incident.
Since the passing of Dariush Mehrjui, tributes have poured in, celebrating the works of the pioneering director, producer, and screenwriter. Throughout his remarkable six-decade career, Mehrjui faced challenges from censorship both before and after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Among his most notable works are the 1969 metaphorical drama “The Cow” and the 1990 dark comedy “Hamoun,” which delves into 24 hours in the life of an intellectual grappling with divorce and psychological anxieties.