A Bellerose man pleaded not guilty to murdering his estranged wife before a Nassau County judge Thursday as his children and former in-laws watched the court proceeding.
Fifty-three-year-old Asif Qureshi was arraigned on murder in the second degree and other burglary charges after a grand jury indictment. His defense attorney Stanley Rubin insisted the case will be decided in court, not by the public.
“It’s not going to be tried on the sidewalk,” said Rubin. “It will be tried in the courtroom where he’s presumed to be innocent by operation of law.”
Prosecutors say 46-year-old Aleena Asif had left the home in the morning of Oct.17, 2025 to bring her children to school. While she was out, prosecutors say Qureshi snuck into the house and hid, lying in wait for her to be alone. The two had been estranged and Qureshi did not live in the family home. Asif had begun divorce proceedings.
“In 36 years I’ve never heard of anything as horrific as this,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Donnelly said Qureshi waited for Asif to be alone and then attacked her by forcing a cyanide laced rag into her mouth and holding it in place forcing her to breathe the poison in. The medical examiner said Asif died by asphyxiation due to the inhalation of a chemical agent, later determined to be cyanide.
Their-18-year-old daughter called police to check the home when the school called her to ask why her younger sister had not yet been picked up from school.
Police found Asif dead on her bed, with red facial burns around her mouth.
Prior to the murder police say they had responded to the home for five domestic incidents, Qureshi was arrested once before, but no orders of protection were issued for Asif despite police reports that she said he threatened to make her swallow bleach.
Prosecutors say there are multiple surveillance videos that place Qureshi near the home the day of the murder.
In October, Asif’s brother told NBC New York: “She was a very beautiful human being very hardworking she did not deserve this kind of death.”
Qureshi was not granted bail and he is due back in court Feb. 18.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
