Man jailed for 20 years for murdering relative in Balqa

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a March 2020 Criminal Court ruling sentencing a 35-year-old man to 20 years in prison after convicting him of murdering his relative in the Balqa Governorate in August 2021. 

The court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing his relative following “a heated argument” on August 26 and handed him the maximum punishment for the manslaughter charge. 

Court papers said the defendant asked the victim to join him for a ride in his vehicle. 

On the way, the court maintained, the victim asked the defendant for permission to drive his vehicle, but the latter refused. 

“An argument ensued between the two and the victim ended up descending from the vehicle,” the court papers said. 

The young man grabbed a rock and threw it at the defendant’s vehicle, prompting the latter to turn around and drive towards him, the court maintained. 

“The defendant descended from his vehicle while grabbing a switchblade and stabbed the victim in the chest and stomach then sped off with his vehicle,” the court transcripts maintained. 

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

The defendant was later arrested by police and ushered them to the hiding place of the switchblade “that was used in the stabbing incident”, the court papers stated. 

The defendant did not contest his verdict at a higher court.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s general attorney asked the Court of Cassation to uphold the ruling. 

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

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Ibrahim Abu Shamma, Fawzi Nahar, Hayel Amr and Majid Azab.