By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
An East Windsor woman who has battled mental health issues pleaded not guilty Monday to killing her mother-in-law inside their home on Mozart Court in January.
Tasneem Diwan stood at the defense table inside a state courtroom in Trenton for her arraignment on murder and two weapons offenses, the charges contained in a three-count indictment handed up Oct.14. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has alleged that on Jan. 26, she used an “unknown” object to repeatedly beat 73-year-old Safia Diwan on the head, with an autopsy determining the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
The Prosecutor’s Office declined on Monday to disclose what the motive was for the murder or the object that Ms. Diwan allegedly had used. At a prior court appearance for Ms. Diwan in February, the Prosecutor’s Office indicated that she had implicated herself.
The case is at the very early stages of its progression. But Ms. Diwan, 46, faces the prospect of a long prison term.
In court Monday, assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Skylar Weissman, chief of the homicide unit, said the plea offer from his office called for her to plead guilty to murder, with authorities recommending a 30-year-sentence. She faces to 30 years to life in prison if convicted at trial.
Her defense lawyer, Joseph M. Mazraani, said outside the courtroom that he is exploring any mental defenses that may be available. In an interview, he said Ms. Diwan has been “struggling with mental health issues for years.”
Tasneem Diwan’s husband, her sister and her brother-in-law sat inside the courtroom of Judge Robert C. Billmeier to attend the arraignment, with Ms. Diwan turning to wave at her sister as she was led out by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Officer. She has been held at the Mercer County Correction Center on $1 million bail since Jan.30.
Her next court date was scheduled for Jan.13.
Safia Diwan’s body was found by her son, the husband of Tasneem Diwan, in a front office of the house, the Prosecutor’s Office said.
After committing the alleged murder, Ms. Diwan fled the area only to be captured in Atlantic City; she was found in the bus terminal area of the Tropicana casino on Jan. 29 and brought back to Mercer County.
