Chaudhary and Zara are shown together and the show references Middle-Eastern and Indian in the same way. In real life, India is an entirely separate country with no relation to the Middle East (except invasions from the Middle East). Islam is a major point of contention in India due to the invasions and the legacy of Islamic conquest. Furthermore, henna was used independently in India without Islam or Middle-Eastern influence and has its own name and tradition in traditional Indian culture. It is not a Muslim-only thing.
The defendant is charged with three counts of murder in the second degree, however since his first two victims were sodomized with a metal pipe before being killed, then were killed by being set on fire, which is causing death in a cruel and wanton manner, that elevates the severity of the homicide to murder in the first degree. Also the third victim was killed while the defendant was in custody, that also would elevate it to murder in the first degree. ADA Novak was talking about the defendant not getting parole for at least 50 years, but someone that commits murders as brutal as this would be given the death penalty.