Shepherd gets prison term over murder attempt

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a November Criminal Court ruling sentencing a 25-year-old shepherd to six years in prison after convicting him of attempting to murder a guard in Tafileh in September  2017.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of shooting the victim, who was guarding a construction site, in the face with a pump action gun on September 23 and handed him the maximum sentence.

Court papers said the victim went to check on a site that included heavy machinery with his pickup truck.

On the way, the court maintained, the victim was stopped by the defendant and argument ensued.”The victim informed the defendant that he should not be in the area since it is a private property,” court papers said.

The two argued and the defendant pointed a pump action gun on the victim and shot him in the face, court papers said.

“The defendant fled the area and was later arrested by police,” court documents said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and survived the shooting incident but lost sight in one of his eyes, the court papers added.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentence stating that the Criminal Court followed the proper procedures when sentencing the defendant.

Meanwhile, the defendant, through his lawyer, contested the Criminal Court’s ruling arguing that he shot the victim in selfdefence.

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

“It was clear to the court the defendant was not defending himself because the victim did not commit any act that was hazardous to his life,” the higher court ruled.

Therefore, the Cassation Court stated that the defendant “does not benefit from any reduction in penalty”.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Hammad Ghzawi, Saeed Mugheid and Naji Zu’bi.