Man gets 20 years in prison for murdering minor at Irbid wedding in 2016

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December 2019 Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to 20 years in prison for the murder of a minor in Irbid in March  2016.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of murdering the victim following a brawl during a wedding on March 29, 2016 and handed him the maximum sentence.

According to court papers, the defendant went to a wedding on the day of the incident with some friends.

"An altercation erupted between him and some wedding attendants and he drew a switchblade and waved it at everyone," the court papers said.

The arguments became heated and the defendant "stabbed a minor who was attending the wedding once in the heart", the court documents said.  

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival, court papers added.

The defendant contested the verdict through his lawyer, arguing that he “was not the person responsible for the death of the victim”.

“My client engaged in a brawl and admitted to stabbing someone, but it was not the victim who died,” the defence argued.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the 20-year sentence. 

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant had been given the appropriate punishment.

“The evidence against the defendant is very strong, and he failed to provide any evidence proving his innocence,” the Court of Cassation ruled.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Bassem Mubeidin, Yassin Abdullat and Hammad Ghzawi.