Lynnwood beating death called 'honor killing'

A 61-year-old man accused of beating his brother to death in Lynnwood told Snohomish County sheriff's detectives it was an honor killing to avenge an insulting remark.

In a police statement filed Thursday in Everett District Court, 61-year-old Mehdi M. Matin says more than 20 years ago his brother uttered words about his bride-to-be so terrible the wedding was called off. Both men are from Afghanistan.

Matin was visiting his brother Monday when he repeated the remark.

Matin told detectives he hit his brother in the head with a pipe until he was unconscious and then strangled him with a rope.

Matin is jailed on $1 million bail for investigation of second-degree murder.