Chapel Hill murders suspect to face death penalty

The victims' families are adamant the three were targeted because they were Muslims 

The man charged with killing three Muslim university students in the US state of North Carolina will face a death penalty trial after prosecutors told a judge they had strong and incriminating evidence
that includes the blood from one of the victims found on the accused shooter's pants.
After a brief hearing on Monday, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson Jr. ruled that Craig Stephen Hicks is "death penalty qualified".
Hicks, who remained handcuffed throughout the court proceedings, showed no visible emotion as the judge announced his decision.

Inside Story: Chapel Hill - Was it a hate crime?

He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the February 10 killings of 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat; his wife, 21-year-old Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and her sister, 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.