In 1984, a Moroccan national named Abdelkrim Belachheb walked 
into Ianni’s Restaurant, a trendy Dallas nightclub, and gunned down 
seven people. Six died. Despite the fact that the crimes occurred in 
a state that prides itself on being tough on criminals, the death 
penalty was not an option for the Belachheb jury. Even though he 
had committed six murders, and his guilt was never in question 
(despite his insanity defense), his crimes were not capital murders 
under 1984 statutes. As a direct result of this crime, during the 
1985 regular session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8—
the “multiple murder” statute—to make serial killing and mass 
murder capital crimes.
   
    Belachheb’s case serves as an excellent example to explore 
capital punishment and the insanity defense. Furthermore, 
Belachheb’s easy entry into the United States (despite his violent 
record in Europe) highlights our contemporary fear over lax 
immigration screening and subsequent terrorism. The case is 
unique in that debate usually arises from an execution. Belachheb 
was given life imprisonment and is currently under maximum 
security—a fate some would argue is “worse than death.” He is 
scheduled to have his first parole hearing in 2004, the twentieth 
anniversary of his crime.

_________________________________________________________

GARY M. LAVERGNE is director of Admissions Research at the 
University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of A Sniper in the 
Tower: The Charles Whitman Murders and Bad Boy from Rosebud: 
The Murderous Life of Kenneth Allen McDuff, both published by the 
University of North Texas Press. Lavergne has appeared on 
numerous television shows, including The Today Show, The 
Prosecutors for the Discovery Channel, and American Justice for 
the A&E Television network.


Number Two: North Texas Crime and Criminal Justice Series


What people are saying about this book

“Through his meticulous and dispassionate presentation, Gary 
Lavergne reveals what it was like to stand in the shoes of the 
victims, their families, the police, and the prosecutors, and finally, 
even the murderer. Lavergne’s answer to what is ‘worse than 
death’ is an important and timely addition to the American debate 
over the death penalty.”—Gerald Posner, author, Why America 
Slept

“This is a superbly written book about an extraordinary case whose 
significance ranged from influencing death penalty legislation to 
directly foreshadowing the types of security lapses that led to 
September 11. It is among the best I have read in its genre.”—Bob 
Brown, ABC news correspondent for 20/20

“A powerful indictment of porous policies regarding admitting 
dangerous criminals into the U.S.—seventeen years before 9-
11.”—Don Graham, author, Kings of Texas