Police arrest man for allegedly beating son to death

AMMAN — Police said they arrested a father who allegedly killed his son and badly injured his daughter in Mafraq on Monday, official sources said.

 The two children were allegedly “beaten badly by the suspect, who seems to have wanted to discipline them”, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“The two children, a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were badly beaten by their father and when the Civil Defence Department [CDD] rescue teams arrived, the boy was already dead,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times. 

The CDD paramedics immediately contacted the authorities and forensic experts and investigators rushed to the suspect’s house, the police official added.

 “The father fled before investigators arrived at his house and his daughter was rushed to a nearby hospital,” Sartawi added.

The girl is listed in good condition, Sartawi said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

“The suspect was arrested by a special team almost 40 kilometres from where the incident occurred,” Sartawi said.

The police official added that investigators are currently questioning the suspect to learn more about the motive behind his actions.

The suspect has been referred to the Criminal Court prosecutor for further questioning and indictment, according to a statement from the Public Security Department.

Hundreds of people took to social media to express their shock and anger over the incident, with many calling for a stiff punishment against the father and condemning the “heinous act”.