6 men arrested in connection with murder of relative in Zarqa

AMMAN — The Criminal Court prosecutor on Monday began questioning six men in connection with the alleged murder of one of their relatives in Zarqa over the weekend, official sources said.

The victim was found dead at his home in the town of Hashimiyya on Sunday, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“An autopsy was performed on the victim, and government physicians concluded that the death was not of natural causes, and that the victim died of asphyxiation,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Police immediately opened an investigation into the incident, and concluded that six of the victim’s relatives are allegedly involved in the murder, according to the police official.

Three of the six men reportedly confessed to luring the victim to a deserted area to discuss an old feud, Sartawi said.

“The three men beat up the victim, then strangled him and carried his body back to his house, where he was later found dead,” Sartawi added.

The police official said that investigations also concluded that the three other men involved “encouraged the other three suspects to beat up and murder the victim”.

A senior judicial source told The Jordan Times that the Criminal Court prosecutor is currently questioning the six suspects.

“The prosecution also summoned the victim’s relatives to learn more about the circumstances that led to his murder,” the senior judicial source added.

The prosecution office ordered a 15-day detention for six suspects at a correctional and rehabilitation centre pending further investigation, according to the senior judicial source.