Foreign national’s murder conviction upheld

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February Criminal Court ruling sentencing an Indian national to 20 years in prison after convicting him of murdering a Sri Lankan woman in Amman in January 2018.

The court declared the defendants guilty of stabbing and killing the Sri Lankan woman, whom he was having an affair with on January 26, and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court documents said two days before the victim’s death, the defendant and the victim consumed alcohol and had a heated argument.

“The defendant went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach,” the court said.

The defendant then rushed the victim to a private clinic, where the attending physician stitched the wound and advised him to take the victim to a hospital, the court added.

“The defendant decided not to take her to a hospital fearing legal action and her situation deteriorated,” according to court documents.

Two days later, the court maintained, the defendant took her to another clinic where attending physicians this time contacted the police.

“The victim was rushed to a government hospital but she died shortly after being admitted,” the court transcripts added.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper proceedings when sentencing the defendant, and that he deserves the verdict he received.

The Court of Cassation judges comprised of judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zu’bi, Yassin Abdullat, Hammad Ghzawi and Nayef Samarat.