Iran: Murderer of director Dariush Mehrjui and wife sentenced to death. Two other suspects were each sentenced to 36 years in prison and lashes.
A fourth man received eight years in jail in connection with the murder. The verdicts can be appealed. The murder of the couple in mid-October caused great consternation and disbelief in Iran. With his film "The Cow" from 1969, Mehrdschui won the audience award at the Venice Film Festival in 1971.