Man jailed for complicity in murder

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld an April 2018 Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to over six years in prison after convicting him of encouraging his brother to kill a man during a fight in Mafraq in August 2016.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of complicity in murder on August 9 and handed him six years and eight months in prison.

Court papers said that, on the day of the incident, the defendant's father had a heated argument with the victim.

The father returned home and urged the defendant and his brother "to take revenge on the victim".

The two brothers headed to the victim's house armed with sharp objects and "lured him to a deserted area," court papers said.

"The defendant's brother pinned the victim to the ground and the two beat him up and stabbed him," court papers said.

The two brothers left the victim and were arrested shortly after the victim's body was discovered, court papers added.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general had asked the higher court to uphold the Criminal Court's ruling stating that the court followed the proper procedures.

The defendant, through his lawyer, contested the court verdict asking to be declared innocent because "he did not take part in the killing".

"My client did not commit any harmful act against the victim and was only present. Therefore, he should not be convicted of any charge," the lawyer argued.

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

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Majid Azab, Bassim Mubeidin and Naji Zu’bi.