Antiguan businessman and husband of a former Miss Dominica, Morrad Ghonim, has been found guilty in the United States for murdering his first wife more than two decades ago.
Ghonim was found guilty of first-degree murder on Monday, November 21 in California.
He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced December 19.
Ghonim was charged with the 1992 murder of his first wife in the Los Angeles area.
He was deported from Antigua in 2015 where he operated a beauty store, two months after a jury in the US convicted 42-year-old Leon Martinez as being the hit man in the murder.
He was reportedly paid $500 to commit the crime.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Ghonim was the one who hatched the plan to kill his wife, Vicki Ghonim.
Ghonim and Martinez were both arrested in 2010, but the case against Ghonim was dropped because of a lack of evidence at that time.
It is reported that three months later, Ghonim left the US to live in Antigua.
The criminal case against Martinez proceeded, and in 2012 he confessed that Ghonim was involved in the matter.
Prosecutors say the Ghonims were having marital problems at the time, and Morrad paid Martinez $500 to stage a robbery and kill Vicki.
Ghonim, born in Jordan, tied the knot with Miss Dominica 2012, Nadira Lando, in 2014.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL DETAILS OF THE CASE
Nadira, if you access DNO, this is for you and everyone else who may be hurting at this time: No one is without some sort of burden. Reason for being kind.
He Will Carry You
Gaither Vocal Band
There is no problem too big
God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall
God cannot move it
There is no storm too dark
God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep
He cannot soothe it
Oh, if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
Oh, if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you
He said, “Come on to me all who are weary
And I will give you rest, rest, rest, rest”
Rest, rest, rest
There is no problem too big
God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall
He cannot move it
There is no storm too dark
God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep
He cannot… Full lyrics on Google Play Music
I have this on tape. It is a beautiful song. May the…
May the words bring some comfort and peace of heart and mind to you.
The music is also touching.
Be ready to do the time if you do the crime.
My hair is very hard and my nose is broad; I’m also very dark. Girls from my village grow long nose and rosie chicks, and think they are worth more getting together with men they know nothing about. Many of them become sex slaves, servants to their own husband; Some lose their life for the simplest thing such as talking to another man. Not long ago a woman from the east of Dominica was murdered by her “high complexion horse-barn.” Stay with your kind.
STOP THE IGNORANCE. IT’S NOT HER FAULT YOU SEEM TO NOT HAVE SELF-WORTH.
Nadira, this too shall pass. Be strong darling.
It must have been your fault!!!!
He threatened to kill the ex wife just back in 2012 when he met Nadira. The ex wife just didnt know what he meant when he said “It cost him $500…” Had they encountered any trouble in the future, this could have been the result. Poor innocent girl knew nothing. Wicked cold hearted man. Yes he treated her well but there was no telling what he could have done to her. He was a wolf in sheep clothing.
A terrorist!!!
“What that have to do with any of us?” Are you guys kidding me?!
WAW! First of all dude is NOT Dominican and two, even if he is married to a Dominican
why is this publicized? Do you all have any regard for her feelings. She is human. Her husband is in this mess and she has to face reality. In addition to that you all want to share this “bad news” with the world and still talk about what she should and should not do. I mean we have noo idea what really happened. If it is true or not, we are only reading stories from a far. This is crazy, ya’ll need to find focus on more productive things man. WAWWWW. There are persons who are dominicans and are getting in far worst complicated issues that this overseas as well. I am not asking for it to be publicized but taking into consideration the era that we are in wouldnt a little more focus on positive thing be the goal? WAWWWW… I need another plant, this one doomed. lol lol
WAWWWWW what a load of bull!!
Are you serious? The “fairytale wedding” was big news so why not? He is not Dominican but married to one and advertised their wedding for all to see so anything that follows would also be public. If she wanted a private life she should have never publicized her “fairytale wedding” which by the way ain’t no fairytale… I mean they didn’t live “happily ever after”
The End!
It is shocking and sad for her though which is something she never expected. Consider, it may affect her for life. Let us hope she has a lot of support to help her and see her through this for it is no easy matter especially for a young person and one who expected she would have a happy, married life with children; at least a relatively happy one.
LIfetime movies
You sound jealous and bitter.
You know this individual is making a mounting out of a mole hill. This is news, what is wrong in DNO reporting it. It will be reported in the News on Line in Antigua, so what? The matter hits right home, the convicted man has been to Dominica, he is married to a Dominican, the current wife am sure expected the conviction as the evidence was overwhelming. So if she expected him to be freed she was living in a fools paradise. You making a big issue about how she maybe feeling, but why didn’t you consider the matter the other way around, that she dam right may have escaped death herself. You never know what her future could have been. Thank God he is behind bars for life and cannot hurt another person.
Even in prison they have their outside contacts. They know how. Only yesterday I heard on a local Toronto Station that US prisoners are able to traffic in guns and drugs and command other evil behind bars. How they can do this in prison is baffling.
While in prison, he could be jealous of her out in public. I hate to think of the rest.
It is News as the other ones DNO posts. What is your problem?
Join in! 
It gives DNO readers something to think, write and discuss.
We love to read current News!
Hope he left you with some dough my dear. Then take it and spend it on a real brother from DA, and he doh have to light skinned. Be careful next time my sister.
lol which dough you would be surprised.
I feel sorry for Nadira. I wonder how has she been doing since he was arrested and how is she doing now that he is convicted of murder.
Nadira, there is a saying, “God protects us from something worst than death.” While you can’t see the future, who knows, what the future with him could hold for you? It is obviously difficult for you to consider, but it could have happened.
After all is said and done and tears are shed, look to the future. As we all know you are a beautiful Dominican woman. There may be even something better in store for you.
Whatever you feel at this moment, take your time and think of what you would like to do for the future. Pray to God to assist you accordingly. It is said, “God never turns His back on people with a good disposition.”
I wish you well and God’s blessing. Try to keep your heart peaceful. When you feel under the weather, so-to-speak, never fail to call on God and ask Him to help you. He is always there, only a prayer away.
The man he paid to murder his wife was not going down alone. This usually happens. Most people really cannot hide in the world. The US will find them.
The fact that he planned the murder of his first wife, paid the man to do the job, also she being a young wife with a baby and pleaded for her life and was still murdered, the US Law would not be easy on him.
Even when he went to Antigua, I am certain the US always knew where he was. He may also have been conducting business in the US.
It look like his life is finished. He may appeal and continue to appeal for years. They never give up.until the Judge says no and orders the case closed.
Reading these comments you would swear the drug dealers, murderers and gang members in Dominica doesn’t have like 2-3 girlfriends.
Thanks for that link to the fairy tale page. I see one thing. He should not have done this to her knowing his secret past . She is younh with a future ahead of her. There was no need to rush the marriage. He could have dated the young lady and and assist her studies and still take care of her. Thats not love. But theres something great in her future.
We Dominicans are too quick to shoot each other down. Its an unfortunate situation whether you knew her or not or liked her or not.
What de you like in de NUT? His hair and complexion? His accent maybe? Now it’s gonna be hard for you to find a serious man, eh!!! Because your husband in a modarah…..
@bumbble lee – that is a cold statement. She is pretty and intelligent. her past would not define her future. I hope there is no skeleton in your closet and you live a perfect life. Ridiculous!
I have no closet.
She “intelligent?” and didn’t see that coming? Choops….
NO! That is a lie, silly. How could you state that? Have a heart! She did not kill anyone. Shame on you! They would have compassion on her for what has befallen her..
Go wash and cleanse your fingers with Holy Water and drink some for your brains, heart, blood and mind.
She is a beautiful woman. The men who knew them could have been jealous that he had such a beautiful, young wife. They could be happy now she is sort of free.
I do not think she would have a problem meeting a man or a man falling in love with her and mesmerized with her too, of her beauty and youth.
Wish her well. If you can’t do that, pray to God to mellow your thoughts and words.
I would like to take this situation to give younger ladies some advice:
Please leave these older “gentlemen” and their money alone. Enjoy your young days by figuring out who you are and the direction you want to take in life. Young women these days are so vulnerable and impressionable, and they lack the maturity to make sound decisions. They equate sex and money to love, because they can not differentiate what is love, and what is a relationship. Ladies, use your twenties for exploration, self-definition, and faith. Enjoy your young days because older years will come with plenty of stress and health scares. As an older woman, I urge all of you to work on yourselves, take time to find purpose in your lives, love a little, help others on your way up, but know who you’re falling with before you jump that broom. Finally, I encourage each of you to re-read the meaning of marriage in the Christian bible, because the way God intended it to be is not the way we practice it. All the…
You will never understand. What do you know about falling in love and genuinely?
Remember she was a Miss Dominica. I do not think she pursued him. He pursued her. He saw a beautiful woman and he stuck to her. He must have sworn his dying breathe that he loved her. Due to all the attention he gave her, she fell in love with him.
Furthermore, your advice will not suit everyone. Every situation is different.
You should read the article when she was in Antigua and he was a sponsor. This should inform you that he was the one who was after her. I need not elaborate further. Go and read the article.
lock him up throw the keys
I will inform you, as much as we disdain what he did, to plan and pay to murder his first wife, God does not want us to hate anyone. That man is to be pitied in that, he is godless. We should pray for him as we should Dominican prisoners that God might convert them and if forgiven, they will, one day obtain eternal salvation. You would benefit from it while you are living and when you die and are faced with your eternal judgment.
Think about that for your own sake and for a Dominican, namely, Nadira whose heart may be heavy and painful for her situaton. Pray for her too. God is merciful.
Now what happened to his Dominican wife?
She will be just fine. After all, she is Kalinago and survival and resilience is in her blood.
Always Assertive!
Nadira you are Kalinago and you are woman. You are strength personified. This is a rather unfortunate situation but you will be ok. This will not break you and this too, will pass. May God continue to bless you abundantly and may you find reason to smile again soon. ?
Weh weh weh smh! i dono why Nadira go an pass it for mister eh, weh boy.
Nadira, this is an intervention from God. Who knows, this man coukd have done the same thing to you, given the fact that he did this to his first wife. I know this is very hard for you. But God will bring you comfort in due time.
nadira it could have been you he murdered.so be thankful to god
Love is really blind; this young woman went into a relationship with this guy too quick; she did not get to know her knight and shinning armour well. Thank God she was not harmed like his first wife; the evildoers can run, but will always get caught.
Oh please. So many women here are with evil men who treat them like dogs and they still stick around. Some of them are right here commenting. Their men are more evil than Nadia’s husband. What is your advice to them?
I am sure that there a people who have been killed and no one was arrested for their murder. I is easy to say that she went in a relationship too quick but no matter how long you will take to get to know someone there will always be something about people ;who ever it may be that you don’t know. No one is perfect ;this man is not the only wife killer,there are also women who have killed many husbands;in small Dominica almost every body know each other yet there are deep secrets such as married men fathering other men’s kids.I know one man in Dominica who was born and always lived in the same village with his wife ,he killed her one day.Do you think that this woman did not get to know this man long enough?Would this lady want to be killed by her husband?I don’t think so. This young lady is still alive ,if this man really killed his first wife well she should wish he gets life but there might be a catch;according to the life that she wants to life after remember honour killings…
Have you heard this saying or do you know? “Who knows what lurks in the heart of man?” I add, woman. We can never tell what is in the heart and mind of people. We also cannot predict them.
You probably have heard some people say: “Oh so and so would never do that.” They swear for sure. Or they will guess what might be in the person’s mind and what they would say. I warn some people against that. How wrong and presumptuous they are.
It could happen to anyone. We must be broad-minded about that. There are people who came to work in D/ca and who fell in love with D/cans. They got married. Some have returned to their spouses’ land of birth and are living a happy life.
This happens when people are in love. Knowing he is an older man he would not want to wait for years before marrying her. Therefore, it is not a matter that she had a relationship with him too quickly. He showed her he cared and loved her. He treated her well. She in turn fell in love with him. It was like a fairy tale meeting, courtship, marriage and married life.
He is very good at wooing women and making them feel good. Furthermore he had a business and appeared well off. She obviously thought she was fortunate to meet him and he was the man for her and that, they would live a happy life.
He did not look like a murderer and he would not have told her. She is not to be blamed for her feelings for him then.
I dont care what he wanted. It could have been not many hours he waited to ask. SHE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MIND OF HER OWN to tell him to wait it is too soon. i hardly know you apart from the good time you showing me.
By the way, can you see through people and read their mind and past life? Only God can do that. Everyone take their chances with people and hope for the best.
Stop trying and make excuse for people you yourself. you would swear is you that there with her to know who what why when and how. want to respond to everybody comment. She was materialistic and turned snobby. the man catch her eyes with a promise of a high life so she marry. case closed.
so how d Hell allu know when them ppl got together? stupes man
So why is it that Nadira name all over that? Awa wi……….
Whose husband is he? Myname you want to be in it then. Whose name was in the fairy tale wedding right here on DNO? Go and sleep
Her name is all over that because she is his wife. Can’t get away from the fact.
Because she was married to him DUH!!! @Dominica
Nadira be happy,this guy would have eventally turned on you too,move on with your beautiful life.
Nadira, you are a beautiful Dominican Girl, just remember that. There are many other men who are willing to wife you. Keep your chin up and continue your education.
So why 10 people dislike such an encouraging comment to the young lady? Bitter you all bitter so? Because is not you all that get to carry the #Ghonim for a few minutes of fame? #haters #stupesssssssss
Nadira, you are a beautiful Dominican Girl, just remember that. There are many other men who are willing to wie you. Keep your chin up and continue your education.
Wow in one year he added 24 years to his physique.
Sometimes blessings come wrapped in less than ideal circumstances. Nadira, keep your head up. You did nothing wrong, all you did was fall in love, trusting what you knew of him and stepping out on faith for the rest. No one should gloat about this because yours is now, theirs will be later! Life goes on and the sun will rise tomorrow!
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/nadira-lando-marries-fairy-tale-soul-mate/
Why are you making this about Nadira?
She did nothing wrong. She met and fell for a ‘snake charmer’….
We too hypocrite in this country. Plenty of us women sleeping with mordara right here, right now AND WE KNOW IT!
Nadira is no relation to me, I have never met the chick, but I just find the level of hate expressed towards her is unbelievable.
Where is the hate? You just upset because her name is there but it has to be is her second half she walk down the isle with him not you! If he had become president her name would be there move there
If it was something good you would want her name all over wouldn’t you.
So who really is the hypocrite???
So unnecessary.
She did not commit the crime, so why make her the center piece of the article?
Cuz the two shall become one, so we can know who he is. IF he did something good you would not talk
There is a lesson to be learn from this young Girls. To many times we fall in love so quickly in the name of material gains.
What makes you think she got married for material gain??? Just cause the man have money?? Smh…. stop being judgemental..
Be considerate. You are judging her. It could have happened to you or anyone you know. If you are not yet over the hill with one foot on earth and one foot in the grave or near it, it could very well happen to you someday.
His current wife should hug the second wife cause her testimony reveal the cold hearted nature of this guy. One day one day you going pay be it thru the long arm of the law or simply Karmala.
For those who think that you can extinguish the truth with callous lies the truth is unrelenting
You can only run for so long. One thing I admire about American justice: they do not forget.
It is not only in America. Have you forgotten? There is also Canada and Europe. They prosecute cold cases once they get the culprit. It could also be for other crimes.
There are times with a flaw the murderer is acquitted. Those countries are not perfect or their Justice System.
Nadira, girl in all things give thanks you hear. Things could have turned out worse for you my dear.
You do the crime, You do the time…
Wait for all her friends to come and ask about the headline. IF he had won a noble prize they would have no problem with her name in it. Now is murder so they will come crying, BOLD FACE hypocrites with no shame wow. The headline is perfect since it tells us who he is and why its on Dominica News. Enjoy the good time and the bad.
That is the exact same thing I said, I could shake your hand.
Very true.
Ahhhh I like that. So what happen to all the things in Antigua? Did the court take them? Some people ego will deflate now
And if he had won a Nobel (I spelt it correctly for you) prize, he would not even have made it on DNO news because we all know is not good news they like to report.
Yes, I said it!
He would have been right here just like the fairy tale wedding you too hypocrite