In this case, the Muslim defendant pleaded not guilty of murder, arguing that the mens rea (guilty mind) element of the crime was not established. As the defendant was a Muslim immigrant, his "traditional Muslim Indian upbringing," he argued, served as a factor disabling him from properly understanding the way in which his girlfriend, the victim, terminated their relationship and formed the basis for his subsequent actions. The court rejected these arguments, ruling that one's religious background was not sufficient reason to rule that criminal intent was not present.